We know that what we’re telling you sounds crazy. Saying “hello” to anxiety? To clarify the situation and understand what this is all about, we invite you to stay here and enjoy this conversation among friends. Our guest is a luxury!
Dr. Rocío Barrios defines herself as an unconventional psychiatrist, a psychotherapist of the soul and the feminine being ; as a feminist woman and mother. She is a psychiatrist specializing in liaison and consultation psychiatry and also has extensive experience in wellness . We thank Dr. Rocío for granting us this interview during her brief break between appointments.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
It is a mood disorder characterized by a feeling of discomfort, agony, and constant unease that you feel you can’t control. It occurs in response to an external event that is objectively not serious or without an external triggering event.It includes anticipatory thoughts of threat, catastrophe, or constant rumination. It is very often accompanied by psychosomatic symptoms such as headache, dizziness, rapid heart rate, cramps, and gastrointestinal discomfort, among others. By the way, I share with you this excerpt from the book Anxiety for Dummies, by Dr. Laura L. Smith and Dr. Charles H. Elliot. Having realistic worries doesn’t equal having this disorder. For example, if you just lost your job and you’re worried about money, you don’t have GAD, but rather a real problem. But if you constantly worry about money and your name is Bill Gates, you undoubtedly have this disorder.
Are you born with GAD, or do you develop it?
All mood disorders have multiple causes. While they have a genetic basis, they depend on the combination of several factors, such as Events you’ve experienced that you feel were emotionally disturbing, difficult situations in your life, your character traits, the relationship patterns you’ve had, the way you interpreted external factors, and genetics—that is, biological, psychological, and social factors.
How can anxiety in a girl be identified?
Let’s start with the fact that anxiety and depression have a statistically significant 2 to 1 ratio in men. In young girls, it can often manifest as very fearful behavior, isolation, nail-biting, ritualistic behavior, and unsociability. They also exhibit constant fears about upcoming events.
How to arrive at the appropriate diagnosis?
It’s worth noting here that people go through many specialists and treatments that don’t help. They arrive at psychiatric treatment in a very disarrayed state and with thousands of precautions. They go through dermatology, gastroenterology, and many other specialties, but with a psychiatrist, the appropriate diagnosis is achieved, even from a distance.
What is an anxiety attack or crisis?
It’s an “eruption” of anxiety symptoms, an imminent feeling of losing control, of feeling like you’re about to die. It causes rapid heart rate, agony, hyperventilation, and physical and mental tension. Sometimes, it’s even mistaken for a seizure or a feeling of losing consciousness.
Here are some risk factors that worsen anxiety symptoms:
Habits and lifestyle
- Being a sedentary person.
- Drink alcohol.
- Consume caffeine. (Includes soda, energy drinks, green tea, and black tea.)
- Consuming psychoactive substances.
- Eat a diet based on foods and drinks rich in sugars, carbohydrates, and fats.
- Isolate.
- Spending time without sleeping in bed.👀
- Excessive use of devices with screens (cell phone, television, tablet, computer).
Medical factors:
- Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Thyroid problems.
- Some medications can worsen symptoms: Corticosteroids, opiates (morphine, tramadol, codeine, hydroxycodone), Metoclopramide, Montelukast, medications with caffeine (e.g., some for headaches, such as DOLEX FORTE), contraceptives, and others.
- Products to lose weight, suppress appetite, or burn fat.
Psychological factors
- Poor relationship with thoughts, emotions, and other symptoms. This means rejecting anxiety, being afraid of it, racking your brains trying to explain it away, judging yourself, fighting it, etc.
- Stigma and misinformation.
How do you recover from an anxiety episode?
Conscious breathing is key, and mindfulness is the most valuable tool for dealing with anxiety symptoms. I invite you to learn more about this form of meditation in the book Mindfulness for Dummies by Shamash Alidina. The practice of mindfulness (also called full attention, full awareness, or full presence) involves consciously paying attention to the present moment with kindness, curiosity, and acceptance. By paying mindful attention, you’ll discover how to live in the present and enjoy it instead of worrying about the past or the future. The past is over, and we can’t change it. The future is yet to come and is completely unknown to us. The present moment, this very moment now, is all you have. Mindfulness teaches you to live in this moment harmoniously.
What is it like to live with generalized anxiety?
Making it your pet. That is, not being afraid of it, nor wishing you didn’t have it, but living with it so that you have the power, not the anxiety. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a tenant of the emotional world —not very fun, but it’s hard to live with. It’s also worth noting here that anxiety is necessary; it protects us from danger, and it makes us live measured and protective lives. The disorder, the anticipation, the feeling of being out of control is what’s inadequate .
Now, I present to you the protective factors that improve the symptoms of anxiety :
- Engage in physical activity. Ideally, 6 times a week for at least 1 hour.
- Have hobbies, do some activities, and don’t isolate yourself.
- Know and understand the disease.
- Meditate constantly (mindfulness) and practice spirituality.
- Change your relationship with thoughts, emotions, and other symptoms through mindfulness training and regular practice, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
- Have good communication and a doctor-patient relationship.
- Correct risk factors.
How to support a woman with anxiety?
Believing what she feels, not underestimating her discomfort, hugging her or touching her when she’s feeling anxious —that significantly reduces anxiety. Let her talk about what she feels without criticizing her—give her credit.
