With generalized anxiety disorder, many of the panic symptoms are present but to a lesser degree.
Instead of brief periods of intense anxiety, you feel the symptoms throughout most of the day.
Although the specific symptoms of anxiety vary for each person, this daily state of tension can affect major systems in your body.
1.
An increase in blood pressure which causes the rapid heartbeat and constricts the blood vessels in your arms and legs.
These changes produce the uncomfortable awareness of your heart rate, palpitations, headaches, and cold fingers.
2.
Reduced saliva secretions and spasms within the esophagus.
These changes produce dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, butterflies in your stomach, and a gurgling sound from gas in your intestines.
This gas leads to stomach cramping, diarrhea, and constipation.
3.
Hyperventilation or over breathing lowers the level of carbon dioxide in your blood.
This causes deep sighs and pins and needles sensations.
4.
An increased need for urination.
5.
Men have difficulty maintaining an erection during intercourse and women have trouble becoming aroused or achieving orgasm.
6.
Muscles become tense and there is involuntary trembling in the body.
Tension headaches and other aches and pains can occur.
7.
Generally feeling apprehensive, on edge, impatient, or irritable.
May have trouble concentrating, insomnia, and fatigue.
Just looking at the symptoms it is difficult to distinguish between a generalized anxiety disorder and a panic disorder.
There are three factors which help determine a diagnosis.
First, the symptoms themselves help distinguish them.
If you are always anxious and also experience episodes of panic, then panic disorder will be the likely diagnosis.
Second, different kinds of fearful thoughts are linked with the two problems.
In most people with generalized anxiety disorder the worries are about relationships with other people.
The concerns could be with their job, spouse, or making new friends.
With a panic disorder the fear is about personal tragedy or a total loss of control.
They have internal thoughts of fainting, having a heart attack, or embarrassing themselves in some way.
The panic disorder sufferer wants to control both body and mind at all times.
The anxiety disorder concentrates on the inability to handle the expectations and responses from those around them.
The third difference deals with how the person responds to their fears.
The anxious person will back away from situations that will increase their anxiety and may put off certain responsibilities.
The panic disorder will quickly use avoidance to lower any discomfort.
Any situation that may cause the symptoms will be avoided and recognized as the best possible solution to the problem