Wellness Wednesday- Anxiety

Wellness Wednesday is so dear to me, Im sure you cant tell because I haven't done one in a while but its due to my life being in what feels like a constant transition. However going through old post I remember why I started it. I wanted to encourage and educate others on varying topics related to mental health.

This week the theme of my clients has been anxiety. ENTER THE DRAGON... This post could be a book long so I will focus it solely on the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This does not include other disorders such as panic disorder and PTSD. Please be mindful that the symptoms may manifest in others differently.

A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance). 

B. The person finds it difficult to control the worry. 

C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children. 

(1) restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
(2) being easily fatigued
(3) difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
(4) irritability
(5) muscle tension
(6) sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep) 

D. The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a Panic Attack (as in Panic Disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in Social Phobia), being contaminated (as in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in Anorexia Nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in Somatization Disorder), or having a serious illness (as in Hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. 

E. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. 

F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

This post is not meant to replace seeking professional help.  It is simply meant to be informative. Everyone worries about something weight, bills, children, and the list goes on. Anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of and if you or someone you knows is suffering seek help. You do not have to suffer alone.

Come back next week as I discuss possible treatment options for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Wellness Wednesday- PTSD

As usual my wellness posts are inspired by my clients. Today I saw a client who said “I just wish I could go back before it all happened.” She was describing her life as a well adjusted adult with friends, hobbies, and what she perceived as purpose. Then she was raped. Now EVERYTHING for her has changed and she struggles daily to function. She is suffering with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. This disorder gained a lot of attention with soldiers however it effects others as well. For this woman the thought of a man being behind her sends her into an anxiety attack. She cannot imagine dating because with dating comes sex most times and she has lost all desire. Even if a man is polite she sees him as a threat. Needless to say her relationship with her boyfriend is over. The final thing that brought her to therapy was when her mom looked at her and said “move on a lot of people have been raped and they put their lives back together.” She cried as she told me that she didn’t know how to stop smelling him, hearing his voice, and thinking about the incident. She began to sob as she went on to tell how one night destroyed her life. She is not sleeping, she is angry and ALWAYS afraid.

Then she looked up at me with tearful brown eyes and asked “now how do I get back to before.” As a woman I wanted to hug her and tell her how strong she was for even showing up today and that she could certainly get through this. As a therapist I did some other intervention that involves asking her to describe before and identify her negative thoughts.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. Below I have detailed the symptoms.



Symptoms of PTSD fall into three main categories:

1. "Reliving" the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity

·         Flashback episodes, where the event seems to be happening again and again

·         Repeated upsetting memories of the event

·         Repeated nightmares of the event

·         Strong, uncomfortable reactions to situations that remind you of the event

2. Avoidance

·         Emotional "numbing," or feeling as though you don't care about anything

·         Feeling detached

·         Being unable to remember important aspects of the trauma

·         Having a lack of interest in normal activities

·         Showing less of your moods

·         Avoiding places, people, or thoughts that remind you of the event

·         Feeling like you have no future or a sense of a shortened future

3. Arousal

·         Difficulty concentrating

·         Startling easily

·         Having an exaggerated response to things that startle you

·         Feeling more aware (hypervigilance)

·         Feeling irritable or having outbursts of anger

·         Having trouble falling or staying asleep

 

Reading this post does not make you an expert. If you or someone you know needs help GO AND GET IT!!!! You can regain control of your life.