How to Cope with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

One of the most important parts of having generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is learning how to cope with the persistent anxiety and some of the physical symptoms. This page can serve as a guide to coping with anxiety that will be frequently updated with new articles and information based on practical tips that work to cutting-edge research findings.

Understanding GAD

It is crucial to understand the elements of GAD as completely as possible to be able to cope with it effectively. The following articles are a good way to begin or increase your depth of understanding of GAD:
GAD Diagnostic Criteria This article will give you a great overview on the symptoms of GAD and how mental health professionals diagnose it.
Normal Anxiety or GAD? Many times people wonder whether if their experience of anxiety is normal or is of greater concern, and this article will help you know the difference.
Physical Symptoms of GAD Some of the most common symptoms of GAD are somatic (physical) symptoms, and this article can be your guide to the most common.

Coping Styles

There are a variety of coping styles people use when dealing with stress and anxiety. Some of these methods focus on tackling problems and issues head on, while others employ methods of avoidance or less desirable practice like self-medicating. The following articles can help you understand these processes in more depth:
Coping Styles for Anxiety There are some coping style basics that you can learn with this coping guide.
Problem-Focused Coping for Anxiety This is one of the most important forms of healthy coping that we can learn for anxiety and other life problems.

Coping Techniques

Beyond each major type of coping style are a variety of techniques that can also be used to decrease and cope with anxiety symptoms. Learning some of these for your “anti-anxiety toolbox” will be essential to maintaining a more peaceful life experience:
Mindfulness and GAD Mindfulness is one of the most effective ways to work on your anxiety and is a major buzz in the psychological world right now.
Anxiety and Better Sleep Finding a way to sleep better is crucial to being able to cope with anxiety, and this article details an important method to try.
5 Ways to Cope with Anxiety This article will show you some tips and tricks to try.

Professional Treatment

Finally, a major step of effective coping is finding professional help. Some styles of therapy will teach you how to apply specific relaxation techniques to your life, and other will focus on understanding what makes you anxious and why.
Types of Therapy for GAD There are a variety of therapeutic approaches to GAD, this article details the most popular and effective.
Best Treatments for GAD This article covers what research shows to be the most effective anxiety treatments.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for GAD CBT is one of the most popular and easy to learn treatment approaches to GAD.

How the Excessive Drinking of Alcohol Causes Anxiety

Anxiety causes feelings of apprehension and very real fear. An alcohol induced anxiety disorder cause by the excessive drinking of alcohol has prominent features of generalized anxiety and fear, panic attacks, and in more severe cases can cause phobias, or obsessive-compulsive behavior.

An alcohol induced anxiety disorder can last as long as you are drinking, and to aggravate the matter further, anxiety can also be a result of withdrawal from alcohol. In the case of withdrawal induced anxiety, research has shown that the anxiety will last approximately 4 weeks after you stop drinking alcohol. However, since each person has an individual nervous system, this time element will vary.

In general, alcoholics have injured or altered serotonin systems in the brain. Serotonin is a feel good chemical that the brain distributes, and alcoholics have a shortage or drought of this chemical in the brain. The damage to the brain's serotonin neurotransmitter is associated with several disorders, including general anxiety, anxiety attacks, anti-social behavior, and depression, depression being a hallmark symptom of excessive drinking.

According to research, excessive consumption of alcohol can cause numerous health hazards, one of which is your body's vitamin depletion from drinking due to poor eating habits and alcohol wiping out the vitamins in your system. This alone will make you more vulnerable to stress.

The Key

Chronic abuse of alcohol ís often associated with depression and depression causes anxiety.

Alcohol can increase anxiety in many different ways, four of which are:

-Alcohol affects our mood because it depletes serotonin in the brain. Serotonin, a feel good brain chemical, can cause anxiety and depression when in short supply.

-Alcohol causes dehydration which has symptoms of nervousness, shaking, dizziness, confusion and weakness.

-Our nervous systems have a reaction to excessive drinking. The nervous system will try to fight off the sedative effects of alcohol, which can lead to a state of hyperactivity. The hyperactive state can lead to sleep deprivation which can contribute to anxiety.