History of Anxiety Disorders
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Abstract
Generalized anxiety is a personality disorder under the anxiety disorder as per the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (DSM-5) (Comer, 2011). The disease is gradual throughout life cycle with those at the middle age and childhood being at a higher risk and is experienced at different severity. There are different historical perspectives and treatments of anxiety such as the sociocultural, psychodynamic, biological, humanistic and cognitive aspects. These views argue that Genetics, biological causative factors, socio-cultural factors, systemic factors and bio-psychosocial factor are at different instances believed to be the primary contributors to the generalized anxiety disorder together with other anxieties. The disorder has no instituted preventive measures, but treating and reducing chances of comorbid factors may help reduce chances of having the disorder (Comer, 2011). The treatments in place for the generalized anxiety disorder include medication, counseling, and cognitive behavior therapy. The disorder so far has no known causes though it affects up to 3% of the general population in an instance.
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety is a personality disorder together with others under the anxiety disorder as per the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (DSM-5) (Comer, 2011). Under the revised book published in 2013, anxiety and depressions were refined and under the disorders are the anxiety disorders where the generalized anxiety falls together with eleven disorders. The disease is likely to affect women twice as men with 3% of the population annually experiencing the disorder. The disease is gradual throughout the life cycle with those at the middle age and childhood being at a higher risk. The exact cause of the disorder is unknown with biological factors, family and life experiences in stress extreme situations being suspected to be contributing factors. The disorder is experienced in differen severity with those at the mild stage capable of undertaking their usual tasks and function like any other people. At its advanced stage, however, it is extreme for the persons suffering from it to take day-to-day duties.
The Historical Context of Anxiety
Anxiety is an abnormal psychological condition that is common in both children and adults. The state subjects a person to worry about everyday life events naturally without any apparent reasons in excessive and even exaggerated manner causing depression (Comer, 2011). People with anxiety expect nothing positive except disaster and health, money, family, work or the school that form the basis of their thoughts. Generalized anxiety come about when symptoms in a person extend for more days in excess, with a person experiencing tense and fear with unpleasant physical destabilization. Generalized anxiety usually manifested by fever, faster heart rate, palpitation, headache as the physical symptoms are initiated by the brain through sending pulses through the nerves to other parts of the body making them function abnormally.
The sociocultural perspective of the disorder argues that there are societal and multicultural factors and conditions that are dangerous. People in stressing and threatening environments are more likely to experience the generalized anxiety. It can however not be argued that such factors are contributory to the disorder since only a few people develop the disease while many others within the same environment do not. The psychodynamic perspective indicates that all children experience some levels of anxiety as part of their growing up, and they use their ego defense mechanisms to defend such (Comer, 2011). Children experience neurotic, realistic and moral anxiety depending on the situation they are subjected to. Association and interpretation therapies are applicable in responding to the disorder.
The humanistic perspective on the other side argues that the anxiety disorder arises when people stop looking at themselves honestly and acceptingly. Repeated denial of oneself subjects a person to a lot of anxiety with the inability to fulfill personal potential entirely. This situation can be responded to through a practitioner centered approach where a client is helped by being accepting, showing genuine and conveying empathy. Cognitive perspective puts it out that dysfunctional way of thinking causes anxiety. Here, maladaptive assumptions are believed to be the primary cause of generalized anxiety that again results from irrational beliefs that lead to actions and reactions that are inappropriate. In such a situation, a client is helped to identify and correct irrational assumptions and thoughts that cause the disorder.
The biological perspective portrays a belief that biological factors primarily cause the disorder. In this case, it is believed that people can inherit the disease and those from same families expected to depict same probabilities of expressing the disorder. By seeing a stressful situation, neurons can be fired throughout the brain and the body, causing excitability that result in increased perspiration, breathing and muscle tension. In this case, the drug therapy is used as an intervention and treatment of the disorder together with relaxation training and feedback.
Cause of the Illness
Anxiety is common in older people but can be first observed at the early 20’s and affects more women than men at a double rate and can be established in 1 out of every 50 people at any one instance. Various factors are believed to play a part in the development of anxiety, but the primary cause of the disorderis not precisely known (Comer, 2011). The biological makeup and inherited factors in a person may contribute to stress as they control different aspects of the body. Family history in relation to generalized anxiety disorder can increase the likelihood of developing the disease, and, therefore, the tendency may be passed onto generations though this is still disputed by theorists. Childhood experience such as abuse and trauma are also likely to help to a greater deal of trauma at the later stages of life or make one prone to anxiety.
Typical stresses in life may also trigger the condition into being even if the cause terminates, the symptoms may persist due to minor factors. People with mental conditions are likely to suffer from anxiety, as the disease can be associated with the abnormal functioning of the brain. It is said that brain chemistry, involving nerve pathways connected to the parts of the brain involved in thinking and emotions contribute to the disorder if they are not well functioning. Summatively's, Genetics, biological causative factors, socio-cultural factors, systemic factors and bio-psychosocial factor are at different instances believed to be the primary contributors to the generalized anxiety disorder together with other anxieties (Comer, 2011).
Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the most efficient form of treatment and believed to have been effective in over half number of people with GAD. The procedure relies on the view that certain ways of thinking are capable of initiating particular mental health problems in a person. A professional therapist undertakes to make a patient understand own patterns of thought and classify them as best or harmful and change way of thinking through own decision and efforts to cast out dangerous ideas and thoughts, and gain more realistic patterns of thinking. This process took roughly an hour and conducted weekly for the client for several weeks with other sessions allocated to be done at home. Therapist for a customer may adopt several techniques with anxiety depending on their condition and circumstances.
Counseling focuses on problem-solving or solution-seeking techniques to help a client come out of the situation and elevate to a better situation. The method is employed in order to aid a client come out of anxiety and form other useful class of opinion (Comer, 2011). Support training may also be used in some individuals rather than individual therapy or counseling. The course mostly covers learning how to relax, problem-solving skills and coping strategies.
There are several medications available for use depending on a physician’s prescription and the condition of the client diagnosed. Antidepressants are commonly utilized in both treating preventive purposes in order to eliminate or treat the symptoms and even to reduce those symptoms even if someone is not suffering from anxiety. Tranquilizers are most commonly prescribed differing across countries depending on the response or side effect. Tranquilizers are addictive and can lose their effect if taken more than the recommended and makes one drowsy and, therefore, they are not used for persistent anxiety conditions such as GAD.
Prevention
Currently, there are no techniques for earlier detection of anxiety that can be effectively used to aid in the prevention of the disorder. There also no medications that is adequately tried and approved to be effective in preventing any such disorder. The only remedy and intervention that can be undertaken in an effort to the prevention of generalized anxiety disorder is through screening. The testing for specific risk factors relating to genetic makeup, biological causative factors, socio-cultural factors, systemic factors and bio-psychosocial factors can help in the effort of the prevention of the disorder. Efforts to improve the diagnosis of disorders are futile, and the care given to those affected are below standards and capacities. Morbidity and mortality resulting from the comorbid conditions calls for an early complete psychiatric, medical and substance use assessment and treat their symptoms early enough before they contribute to severe anxiety.
Self-care and management can prove a success in managing anxiety disorders. When a person is aware of self-life stresses and the ability to cope, the person then will be able to reduce chances of getting the disease. Developing coping mechanisms to deal with stress such as exercise, meditation, visualization, relaxation activities, healthy diet, rest and interpersonal skills in dealing with stressful situations can help in the prevention. It is also important to avoid a tight schedule that makes a person be subjected to conditions of anxiety. Watching body and mental activities and changes, ability to stand situations are critical points of prevention. People may get advice on prevention of anxiety disorders from physicians, seminars and homecare professionals.
Cross Cultural
Cultural experiences of a person influence emotions, expressions, and experiences with some culturally related factors and contextual factors affecting the anxiety disorders. An individual's idea about mental and body processes and functions and those factors that are related to cultural norms and rules are capable of causing anxiety. Methods used to diagnose the disorders also differ across cultures with different practitioners incorporating their practice in the cultural context. Some cultural practices dictate certain actions that may contribute more depression resulting in the disorder or avoidance of seeking care. For instance, fear of a person being observed or embarrassed in health facility makes them avoid seeking services.
In most cultures, it is believed that respective cultures determine medical conditions. Sociocultural factors are thought to influence a person's mind and actions and are critical in positioning mental status of an individual. It is expected that within different cultural settings, a validly differing levels of anxiety are recorded due to the different cultural aspects. The people who suffer from the disorders more are also expected to vary across cultural boundaries. Some cultures place people in extreme conditions and practices while others subject its members to serene circumstances; this can be a source of difference in the level of anxiety across cultures.
Biblical Worldview
In several scripts of the Bible, fear and anxiety are discouraged while courage and comfort encouraged. Christians from all lifestyles would not accept stress for it is believed that God does not allow fear. It is always said to Christians to be afraid of nothing and thus they will always feel guilty being anxious. In the event a person will start experiencing anxiety, he or she will start wondering if he or she is not praying to God enough even though they are capable of experiencing anxiety just as the rest. Just as other diseases, Christians are susceptible to different conditions and disorders like the rest, and they are capable of acquiring the same. The disease is caused by several contributing factors and is not a sign of failure in spirituality.
Just as the rest of the people, medication and psychotherapy would work best for Christians, even though those who feel it is a weak faith continue in their spiritual activities. The meditations and relaxations in the Christian practice are useful therapies for managing anxiety disorder (Comer, 2011). Christian’s spiritual remedies, the penance and intercession session offered in the religious facilities bring one to self-acceptance, forget about weaknesses, and notice the strengths. The verses of the Bible are sources of encouragement, and they serve as oases of hope and comfort for a troubled body and mind. Counseling sessions are also available in the church provided by authorized persons and spiritual leaders.
Conclusion
Even as there is no comprehensive cure for the anxiety disorders, proper treatment of the symptoms help achieve substantial relief (Comer, 2011). So far, there are no preventive measures in place but precautions and best practices may help lessen the effects of the symptoms, reduce them or completely control them. Generalized anxiety is not comparable to the day-to-day stresses people undergo in life (Comer, 2011). For it to be declared a disorder, the symptoms must have lasted in a person for a prolonged period, usually, one month. The disorder can be experience across ethnic, cultural, economic, social and religious boundaries irrespective of the person. Impairment associated with generalized anxiety is commonly considered mild, with the people suffering from the condition not restricting themselves from social places or job settings.