It is natural to get worried during stressful times, but at times we start to fret and worry about things for small avoidable reasons and then anxiety becomes our second nature.
Generalized Anxiety disorder is the commonest type of psychiatric illness overall. People suffering from this problem tend to worry about small things like bill payments, relationships, cooking, their health etc. endlessly. They are irritable, cannot sleep well or think straight at times. If asked about the reason of their anxiety, they cannot pinpoint it to any one thing. Such people may also complain of frequent headaches, muscle weakness, trembling and occasional diarrhoea.
What differentiates GAD from day to day worries is that the person is not able to relax even while doing pleasurable activities and just cannot stop worrying. Women are far more affected and genes may play some role in its development. Here are some tips to help your-self get out of this situation:
1) Avoid caffeinated drinks, some over the counter medications for cold and foods like cheese and processed food rich in salt, as these may increase anxiety producing hormones. Green herbal tea (Kava) may help to reduce mild anxiety. Too much alcohol intake can also lead to chronic anxiety and depression.
2) Rest well and eat a healthy diet with enough fruits and vegetables of all colours. Sipping a cup of lukewarm milk before bed time may help you to get better sleep.
3) Try some form of relaxation therapy like yoga, breathing techniques or simple walking. These release a feel good hormone and will help to elevate your mood. Go for an occasional message therapy or listen to soothing music.
4) As part of treatment, people are usually asked to identify and write their negative thoughts (cognitive behaviour therapy or CBT) and gradually eliminate them. You need to work with a trained counsellor for this.
5) Medicines like antidepressants are also helpful but sometimes may cause slight dependence. People usually feel better in 3-4 months of therapy so it is important to continue medicines till that time.