Daily stresses may contribute to anxiety

As he drove to work that morning, he thought that his life couldn’t be better. Good things happen to good people he thought – a sense of smugness accompanied the complacency he felt. In a few moments, the news came on the radio. The lead story concerned a rise in interest rates and prediction from several pundits that the stock market was going to enter rocky times. If this scenario occurred, he thought, his “good times” might be imperiled as his financial security was very dependent on the spectacular growth in his stock portfolio. Upon arriving at work, he received a memo that the department that he supervised was being “routinely” audited. Funny he thought this is the first “routine” audit he had ever heard of within his organization. These two incidences, along with a couple of other minor disappointments that day planted seeds of doubt about the future and a growing sense of anxiety begins to replace his earlier confidence.

During a routine physical examination the next day, his physician’s announcement that his blood pressure was high became the straw that broke the camel’s back. Within 24 hours, his sure grip on the future had disappeared and all mole hills now looked like mountains. Knowing that he needed to “get a grip” he turned to his wife who caringly pointed out to him that he was frequently a worrier and, except for brief respites, he was in a state of unending tension. She went on to point out that he worried about almost everything, his health, his job, his family, finances and now, computer viruses.

About three percent of the population experience what is known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (G.A.D.) Symptoms often begin in childhood or adolescence and among the many types of anxiety disorder, (G.A.D.) is second only to phobias in frequency.
Individuals suffering from G.A.D. frequently experience a vague sense of dread, often waking up to an inner voice suggesting that the day ahead is full of potential pitfalls and potholes. The anxiety they experience keeps them tense and often irritable. Their short fuse can make relationships with family, friends and co-workers problematic. This self doubt is exacerbated by their tendency to mentally “draw a blank”, especially in critical situations.

G.A.D. frequently produces physical as well as psychological symptoms. Headaches, dizziness, excessive perspiration and frequent exhaustion are all common in suffers of G.A.D.

Fortunately, there is help and hope for G.A.D. suffers.

Next week I will continue my discussion of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2000