11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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Why you aren't being anxiousfor 'no reason', at all...

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Do you suffer from anxiety - often apparently for no

reason at all?

Do you worry about anything and everything? Does

'logic' just not seem to come into it? Do you

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Click the link totweet

Tweet: Generalised anxiety -

getting through an 'ordinary' day

often takes an heroic effort. Self-

help: 3 steps to recover.

http://bit.ly/1Xl8XyF

constantly have the jitters?

You might even worry that, behind your back,

people call you a 'wimp', a 'weakling' or 'strange',

but I certainly don't...

... I know you often get up in the morning

feeling as if there's a 'brick' in your

stomach, dreading the day ahead. You

may even be anxious about the anxiety!

Believe it or not - I know that you have

the courage of a lion, because getting

through an 'ordinary' day often takes an

heroic effort. It can feel like you

continuously walk on the edge of a cliff

staring into the abyss. Yet, you do it, you

get through.

Doesn't that take pure courage?

I'm

so

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11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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glad you've landed here to discover what it's all

about, and uncover some effective self-help

strategies. This series of articles is for you and/or

your partner depending on which one of you needs

the help, as anxiety can affect all aspects of your life

including your relationship.

But let's get to basics first - just in case you're

unfamiliar with the subject...

What is anxiety and what are thesymptoms

What does anxiety mean? Here are some words to

describe it: apprehension, fear, dread, trepidation,

panic, nervousness.

There are three anxiety disorders: panic -, social-

and generalised anxiety disorder. In this article I am

mainly aiming to help you deal with the latter - that

constant fear in the pit of your stomach, often

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About

11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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apparently for no reason at all. Suffering from one of

the other forms? Do read on as my self-help

interventions will help to settle you, whatever your

fears.

What is generalised anxiety

Let's look at it worst form first. This is when a doctor

may diagnose it as Generalised Anxiety Disorder

(GAD). You can decide for yourself how that

compares with what you are going through.

Oh... and don't forget to also have a look at my page

on the signs and symptoms of a nervous breakdown

- you'll find the link at the end of this article.

GAD (Generalised AnxietyDisorder) is marked by:

Excessive worrying - your loved

ones will no doubt have told you

that you are worrying far too much.

You too are likely to be well aware

that your fears are ‘over the top’.

It is intrusive - you can’t help it,

images of an 'apparent' impending

disaster come into your mind

against your will and they stop you

in your tracks.

It appears uncontrollable - it

seems whatever you try to do about

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11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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it, the anxiety always wins.

It is persistent - that feeling of

‘something terrible is about to

happen’ is with you almost 24/7.

It is certainly debilitating - it

prevents you taking part in ‘normal’

life. You make choices based on

how you feel, not what you would

like or not like to do.

It can be extremely distressing - no

wonder that many people who

suffer from anxiety also suffer with

depression, and of course it can

have a huge influence on your

relationship.

So, now you can see what generalised anxiety

disorder looks like when the symptoms are at their

worst.

GAD is of course label. The label may be helpful in

the sense that you - or more likely, your doctor - has

a shorthand description for a seemingly diverse set

of symptoms.

If you are suffering from these awful, soul-

destroying, energy-sapping symptoms of anxiety,

you care perhaps less about what it is called.

Whether it is generalised or not, classified as a

disorder or not. You just want to put an end to it -

now!

To find the best self-help strategies we need to look

11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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Click the link totweet

Tweet: Anxiety? Every team needs

at the causes of anxiety first, as therein lies the

answer to what you can do to help yourself.

But, before we get to that...

The positives of being a 'worrier'

Yes, there are positives. You are likely to be the one

that spots real danger, where others merely wander

without thought.

You'll be the one to offer practical refinements to an

impromptu dreamed up plan. There's nothing wrong

with dreamers - it's just that they need someone like

you to balance the team!

And to be honest - I'd rather have a worrier as a

dentist or accountant who think twice before giving

some dodgy advice, or pulling a tooth.

Also, all of us have that 'tell-tale', like the canary in

the mine - it will be the first to warn us that all is not

well. It can be physical or mental, so for example, I'm

likely get back-ache. Chances are that for you it'll be

those anxious feelings.

Let's get to the bottom of your troubles now.

11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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someone who's anxious to

counter-balance the dreamers and

creators. http://bit.ly/1Xl8XyF

What causes your anxiety

Before we can begin to help you get over that

constant feeling of dread, trepidation and

nervousness, we need to know how and when it

started, so that you get clear on how best to help

yourself.

Have you always suffered?

Did it appear 'out of the blue'?

Did it start after some 'disaster'?

Has it built up over time and you now have chronic

anxiety?

Does it come on in waves?

It makes a big difference in whether or not the onset

of your anxiety is due to a sudden event or you have

always been an 'anxious type', a worrier, someone

for whom the glass is always half-empty, and even

on a sunny day you can see the storm clouds ahead.

Is it in your genes?

If anxiety appears to run in the family it may be that

your genetic inheritance- that biological lottery - has

set you up for some vulnerability to anxiety. That

does not mean that you can blame your genes for

your constantly being in a state of alarm. The story is

far more complicated than that.

11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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Not every timid, shy and anxious child develops into

a fearful adult with anxiety. Lifestyle factors,

parenting and other experiences, as well as your

manner of dealing with stressors (stressful events

and situations) determine the ultimate outcome.

Your personal development, and here the

development of anxiety, depends on...

how safe (emotionally as well as physically)

your environment was when you grew up

to what extent essential emotional needs were

met (see link below)

whether or not you had parents who were

overprotective

whether or not you had a parent who

expressed constant anxiety

whether or not you were encouraged to

become more resilient and deal, rather than

avoid, feared situations - at home, with friends

and at school

These experiences would have shaped your own

reactions and general attitude to stressful situations

and life-events.

So, what can you do about it?

You've always been a nervous type - chronically

anxious? Regardless of whether that is through a

genetic predisposition or any of the above, you just

need to follow all the steps below to permanently

get over that sense of panic. Unless you need

treatment for traumatic reactions, decide to focus

11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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only on 'the here and now' from here on.

4 Additional causes of anxiety andwhat you can do about it

The above causes of anxiety may overlap and/or be

exacerbated by: -

1. Post-traumatic stress

The solution: Follow the link (see below) to a

number of my articles with all the advice you

need to help yourself recover from this hugely

distressing condition.

2. A sudden and severe loss

The solution: Whether it was the loss of a

loved one, your job, your status, your financial

security, etc - this most of all needs

reassurance. It is totally normal for you to

worry, walk around with a constant feeling of

dread that at any moment there's going to be

another bolt out of the blue. Chances are you'll

notice yourself getting a little better day by day

- depending much on your particular

circumstances of course. Regardless, you need

not worry that you've lost your mind forever.

You are going to be okay! Nevertheless, you'll

definitely benefit from following the advice

further down.

3. A general build-up of stress

The solution: This not only requires you to

manage the symptoms, but also to probably

make some important decisions and life-style

changes. It might be hard going to start with,

11/26/2015 Causes of (chronic) anxiety disorder

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but I know you can do it!

4. A general (poor?) state of health

The solution: the latest is - believe it or not -

that your bowels may be leaking toxins that

can pass the blood-brain barrier and cause

'irritation'. Whether or not your doctor is aware

of that (many are not!), you may need their

help, and there's much you can do yourself too.

Inflammation is also linked with anxiety.

For all of these you'll benefit from, and feel tons

better for, following the advice on how to deal with

the immediate symptoms that I'm giving you further

on.

5 Potential medical causes at theroot of anxiety disorders

It is important that your doctor or other health

professional rules out any other problems you may

have, such as:

1. Thyroid disorder

2. Heart disease

3. Nutritional deficiencies

4. Menopause

5. Digestive-tract disorders

These conditions can also cause you to suffer from

anxiety and anti-anxiety medication (if you were to

be advised to take any at all) would absolutely not

be necessary. Indeed, long-term it may make the

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problem much worse. I'd be delighted therefore,

that you want to know how you can help yourself. So

for my three-step plan to overcome your anxiety,

hop straight over to the second part of this series of

articles.

DOWNLOAD the pdf of this article

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Related articles

Signs and Symptoms of a Nervous Breakdown

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

How to overcome PTSD

Depression in Men

How to Help Your Partner Overcome OCD

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