Generalised anxiety disorder

Generalised anxiety disorder or GAD is a common anxiety disorder that involves constant and chronic worrying, nervousness, and tension. Generalised anxiety disorder can occur at any age. People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed.

Mental- 

1. Irritability
2. Loss of emotional control
3. Hypervigilance
4. Unwanted thoughts
5. Fear
6. Excessive worry
7. Difficulty concentrating
8. Repeat questions over and over again.
9. Anxiety

Physical-

1. Tremors
2. Headache
3. Nausea
4. Difficulty falling asleep at night
5. Restlessness
6. Pounding of your heart/Palpitations
7. Sweating
8. Back pain
9. Fatigue/Tiredness/ Lack of energy/Feeling of weakness
10. Frequent urination

GAD is considered as Chittavega in Ayurveda. 

According to Ayurveda, three physical humors or doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) as well as three mental humors (satva, rajas and tamas) constitute the body and mind. Prominence or imbalance of the first two humors  (i.e. raja & tama) are the cause of several psychological disorders, while satva is the natural state of stable mind. Mental imbalances or Manasvikruti, are caused by three bodily humors (vata, pitta and kapha) and two mental humors (rajas & tamas).

The exact cause of GAD is not known. 

• Over activity in areas of the brain involved in emotions and behavior.
• An imbalance of the brain chemicals serotonin and nor adrenaline, which are involved in the control and regulation of mood
• Family history - more likely to develop GAD if you have a close relative suffering from it.
• History of stressful/traumatic experiences, such as domestic violence, child abuse or bullying.
• Having a painful long-term health condition, such as arthritis.
• Having a history of drug or alcohol misuse.

Treatment protocol aims at:

1. Relief from all GAD related symptoms.
2. Preventing and reducing the complication of anxiety by calming down the nervous system.
3. Rejuvenating the whole body and preventing further attack.

The first line of treatment should always be avoiding the causative factors. If the problem persists then consider the following treatment protocol.

Long-term anxiety and panic attacks can cause your brain to release stress hormones on a regular basis. This can increase the frequency of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and depression including loss of sleep, stress, irritability, fear, anxiety and fatigue

In anxious condition, the muscles tense up and your body puts pressure on areas like your bladder and your abdomen. This pressure may also cause you to need to urinate more often. Stress affects the body in a variety of ways, from mood swings and headaches to weight fluctuations. Stress also causes neck and back pain.

• Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Suvarana makshika will help manage stress, boost brain function and strengthen the body.
• Jatamansi, Mauktik bhasma, Mandukaparni, Godanti and Brahmi will help to manage all stress, calm down the nervous system, improve learning and ease anxiety.

Other therapies - Virecana (Purgation), Abhyanga (body massage), Padabhyanga (foot massage), shiroabhyanga (head massage) with medicated oils, Shirodhara (Pouring medicated liquids/milk/ water/oils on head, Pichu (application of cotton soaked with medicated oil over head), Takra dhara (Pouring medicated buttermilk all over body), Yoga, Meditation and Counselling.