Humanity is going through a really tough time. Even if we are not aware of it, we are in the middle of a period that will be remembered for centuries and will go down in history. As I said, our biggest and most justified fear is, of course, physical.

We have health. When we say mask, distance, hygiene, etc., we put ourselves in a protective mobile glass cage. Those who can, do not even step out of their homes. They are very right, but this will have some consequences. Very serious consequences… Of course, some psychological consequences that we will gradually realize after the pandemic passes and that we cannot easily explain… Fear

Fear of disease, virus, whatever real danger lurks around… That is the definition of fear. There is also the fear of a possible or imagined danger to it. Here, too, we come across anxiety and this is an important issue that we will have to deal with after the pandemic. General anxiety disorder…

This is a very important disorder that should not only affect health, but also affect a person's entire life in a very profound way. First, let's do a very general test. Next, let's take a look at the causes and possible solutions.

In the simplest definition of general anxiety disorder, we can say that it is a state of excessive worry about a disaster, health problem, financial difficulties, health of family members, possible problems with work or school that does not exist for no reason. Even though people with this disorder are aware that these worries are unfounded, they cannot get rid of these feelings. In addition to having great difficulty in relaxing and sleeping, they often experience many physical symptoms such as tremors, convulsions, headaches, sweating, hot flashes, palpitations or shortness of breath. However, generalized anxiety disorder is one of those conditions that people misdiagnose themselves too often. Mild and intermittent anxiety is something that every person experiences from time to time, and is actually necessary for one's survival and ability to tackle certain tasks more effectively. But not every anxiety or panic attack you experience means you have general anxiety disorder. For this, it is necessary to pay attention to some indicators.

If you want, let's make a general self-evaluation together. Remember, this is not enough for you to diagnose yourself. But it can be helpful to give you an idea and to see if it's time to consult an expert.

First of all, when you consider your last 6 months, can you say the following:

“I have been feeling very anxious over many events or activities over the past 6 months. It was very, very difficult to calm my worries. Because of my anxiety, it has become incredibly difficult to perform daily routines such as work, study, spending time with friends or family.”

If you answered yes to all three of these questions, can you indicate that you are experiencing at least three or more of the following symptoms:

Anxiety or tension, constant tiredness and malaise, difficulty in focusing, hypersensitivity and irritability, muscle aches, jaw pain, back pain, difficulty sleeping, waking up very uncomfortable and tense. If you have experienced at least three of these, it may mean that you are in the risk group for general anxiety disorder.

So, what could be the reasons that cause this disorder?

Actually, we don't have a clear answer physically. But as with all disorders, experts first think that genetics plays a role in this disorder as well. It is known that those who have this disorder in their first degree relatives are in a higher risk group. But the triggers are of course in our lives, around us. It may be a trauma that we have experienced at some point in our lives. According to experts, traumas such as childhood abuse, indifference, death of a relative, divorce of parents, and abandonment are the biggest triggers in this regard. However, it may not necessarily be a trigger. In the family or at school, the experiences such as being isolated, constantly criticized, not taken seriously and belittled, which are not obvious but continue, can also cause self-confidence to hurt, self-doubt and anxiety even in unrelated situations in the future, and if this becomes permanent, it can also be general. can cause anxiety disorder.

It is necessary to open a parenthesis to the parents or the person who took care of him in his childhood. It is also very important how parents handle events in the face of a stressful situation, in times of crisis or in difficult times. The children of parents who cannot cope with the crisis and stress also learn this, and these learned behaviors can unfortunately be a part of our personality. However, excessive social media use, caffeine use, troubled relationships, and work or school stress are also thought to be triggers for general anxiety.

Fortunately, general anxiety disorder is highly curable. There are two basic treatment methods, depending on the severity and duration of anxiety. The first method is psychotherapy. The other is medications. Sometimes it can apply to a combination of both. Experts can sometimes decide on the best treatment by trial and error. We can also call it a kind of talk therapy or psychological counseling for the psychotherapy method. This method is to meet regularly with a therapist. Among the applied techniques, one of the most effective is cognitive behavioral therapy. In this therapy, which is usually a short-term form of treatment, some skills are given to you to control your worries and you will be able to return to your normal life over time.

A wide variety of medications can also be used as supplements, depending on your situation. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications or, in some cases, sedatives may also be used. We also need to make serious changes in our living conditions or habits. For a permanent solution, healthy eating, sports and socializing more are very effective methods in the first place. However, we should not forget that sleep pattern is also a very important trigger.

Studies conducted in the past years have shown that this condition can affect between 15% and 100% of the population. I think we can easily say that this rate has increased during the pandemic and will increase gradually. Therefore, we can start working on the risk factors that may trigger this disorder in our own lives and try to adopt a healthier and more positive lifestyle.

I wish you all a healthy and peaceful life. Stay with love…