Studying Psychology discussion

Some anxiety and worry is normal. These normal amounts of anxiety can actually help you respond to threats and feel motivated to get things done. However, excessive worry and anxiety may indicate an illness known as generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prolonged and exaggerated worry that has few or no specific sources. Individuals suffering from GAD often describe feeling constantly worried, anxious, nervous, and uneasy.

I was never diagnosed with GAD, but when I am really stressed out, I have nightmares and horrible obsessive thoughts that haunt my mind while awake. I used to get panic attacks, but I don't anymore. Are these considered symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

probably you could connect these symptoms with GAD, but I always found it more helpful not to relate every symptom to a disorder. sometimes people are relieved when you tell them:Hey,this is the explanation for your symptoms. you just suffer with.... But I don't think it helps a lot.Another way to look at it is to see it individual, like: what is coming up with your nightmares, what are you trying to work off? Why do you need the obsessive thoughts? What would happen if you would not have these thoughts? What would be there instead? Feelings you don't want to come? What is wrong with tour life at the moment? can you change anything to make you feel better? etc... Sometimes the labels of all these disorders and illnesses are like marks, you can never get rid of.

People with the anxiety disorders feel extremely fearful and unsure. Generalized anxiety disorder involves irrational worry, which is excessive and unrelenting. This high level anxiety makes normal life difficult and relaxation impossible. It is commonly treated with medication , specific forms of therapy or both.

Thank you, Glen! I was wondering if along with that excessive worry, people could cross over to another 'diagnosis' specifically OCD? People with OCD's worry about irrational things or situations for example whether the stove is turned off after they have checked it ten times already.

Anxiety Screening Quiz
Use this quiz to help you determine
if you might need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis
and treatment of an anxiety or panic disorder.

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/anxie...

any good book that explains anxiety?

I found these on Amazon:

Not To Worry: 92 Affirmations That Apply How To Stop Worrying Techniques For Curing The Symptoms Of Anxiety
by Gary Vurnum

http://www.amazon.com/Not-Worry-Affir...

The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques: Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Anxious and What You Can Do to Change It
by Margaret Wehrenberg

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Ever-Anxie...

Coping with Anxiety: 10 Simple Ways to Relieve Anxiety, Fear & Worry
by Edmund J. Bourne

http://www.amazon.com/Coping-Anxiety-...

When Panic Attacks: The New, Drug-Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life
by David D. Burns M.D.

http://www.amazon.com/When-Panic-Atta...

There are many more if you go to one of these sites.

I have started reading:

Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life

I think this fits into the Anxiety category because I definitely think too much. It has been interesting, especially considering my current marriage situation, but like so many other books, I haven't finished it yet.

I don't know if these answer your question, I don't know if they actually explain anxiety. I'm assuming that they do. There are many articles found from googling anxiety.


Scientific Explanation of Anxiety
by Christine Switzer

Most people experience anxiety as an emotion triggered by the anticipation of potential danger. How and why people experience anxiety, though, is still a matter of debate among psychologists and scientists. Many theories exist as to the contributing factors and primary effects of anxiety, as well as the relationship between everyday anxiety and clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders.

This article includes:

Theories
Features
Biology
Environment
Effects

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5637626_sci...

TRAIT AND STATE ANXIETY

This article discusses:

TRAIT ANXIETY
STATE ANXIETY
ANXIETY: BEHAVIORAL, COGNITIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS
ZUNG ANXIETY AUTO-EVALUATION SCALE
TRESS (EUSTRESS AND DISTRESS): EXPLANATION
STRESS, PERSONALITY AND WORK

Bibliographical references:

Elkin, A., Rosch, P. (1990). Promoting mental health in the workplace: The prevention side of stress management. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Review, 5, pp. 739-754.

Friedman, M., Rosenman, R.H. (1959). Association of a specific overt behavior pattern with increases in blood cholesterol, blood clotting time, incidence of arcus senilis and clinical coronary artery diseases. Journal of American Medical Association, 2196, pp. 1286-1296.

http://www.noanxiety.com/anxiety-and-...

a friend once asked me to convince her friend (who was diagnosed with anxiety) to take her medications

it was extremely hard since I don't know much about anxiety.

I thought giving her a book might help...but perhaps I should decide which one first

thank you Heather :)