'What If…?'

            Exploring Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Individuals throughout their life strive to grow and achieve heights, during this period each one of us experience anxiety. Anxiety is a normal human emotion which everyone experiences at each stage of development. When any individual experiences anxiety for a prolonged period of time and changes can be seen in their behavior and daily functioning as well as, their day to day routine, it is termed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Their emotions revolve around ‘What if moments’ and they get so overwhelmed, that it becomes nearly impossible for them to process their thoughts and feelings. It’s like getting trapped inside an invisible sheath filled with feelings of apprehension, constant worrying and sadness.

According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth edition), Generalized anxiety disorder can be understood as; excessive anxiety and worry occurring for at least six months or more. The anxiety, or the physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning.   

Anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following symptoms:

·       Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge

·       Being easily fatigued

·       Difficulty in concentrating or mind going blank

·       Irritability

·       Muscle tension

·       Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling asleep or restlessness, unsatisfying sleep) . 

      

      Additional symptoms supporting the diagnosis are trembling, twitching, feeling shaky, muscle aches sweating, nausea, accelerated heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and irritable bowel syndrome. Like other disorders, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can be treated with medications and therapy.

 Stigma attached with Mental Health

 In present people have achieved a lot of developments in Medical field including significant steps which have been taken towards the mental health services but, despite of these advancements if the stigma attached to mental health is still widespread then it will act as a barrier between people reaching out to seek help.

People need to understand the fact that mental health is as prevalent as physical health issues in the society and it is as biological as any other health related issues which need to be treated with the same urgency. The hazards caused by mental health problems affect an individual’s occupational, personal as well as social areas of functioning.

In rural areas, mental health conditions are still considered as a taboo since there is less awareness regarding it but many steps are being taken to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas in respect of providing effective services and facilities.  

 Reality behind ‘Modern Minds’

Promoting the significance of mental health and talking about issues regarding seeking help on social media platform has increased a lot in past few years. A lot of people are opening about their viewpoints and creating awareness about important issues, problems being faced and the tags given to people who seek help for mental health related problems. But in this process, a lot of people unintentionally promote techniques like meditation, relaxing techniques, exercising, sharing thoughts with your closed-ones etc as a permanent solution for their problem and ignoring the severity and future consequences which could come off in future.

Everyone needs to understand and acknowledge mental health practitioners and the services they provide are way different, research based, and effective than ‘the talk’ we give to our closed ones when they feel low-spirited. 

Troubles faced by Young Adults and Adolescents

Adolescents and young adults are vulnerable as aged people, they too could have a mental health related issues which sometimes doesn’t even need environmental factors as it is caused genetically also.

People tend to give unreasonable explanations to children and young adults by denying the reality, and even if some try to cooperate; they intentionally or unintentionally pass comments relating to the counselling sessions taken by them, their age is compared with daily medications that they take to tackle the symptoms which in turn are physical in nature and they are given unnecessary tags for seeking professional help. 

ACCEPTING THE FACTS AND REALITY

De-stigmatizing and creating awareness regarding mental health issues is essential for positive outcome in the society. It shouldn’t be confused with romanticisation and glorification of mental health. Having a mental health disorder is a very painful experience which should be accepted as any other illness in the society and need to be taken care with utmost responsibility.

According to clinical settings, generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed more frequently in females than males. Epidemiological studies show that approximately two-thirds are women. The clinical expression of generalized anxiety disorder is consistent throughout the life.

To conclude, acceptance should be our priority, nothing is impossible for an accepting person.

 It’s time to bring about changes for, ourselves and everyone around us.

- Sugandhi Gulati