Anxiety

Disorder
BY: MADISON MELSONER AND ERVING PENA

Anxiety: The True Story

Unless you know someone personally, talking about
Anxiety, the effects it has on ones life, and how they have
reached out for treatment, can be a very intimate
conversation many are uncomfortable having.
My team and I have decided that given the opportunity to
have someone in our team that knows first hand what it is
like to live with GAD, it would also be a great opportunity
for the class to have any questions answered.
Please show the up-most respect as our fellow peer shares
her experience, as well as some facts. We want to use this
presentation so that individuals know that its okay to be
someone living with anxiety disorders, and that they just
have to find the coping mechanisms for it.
Thank you

Background

My name is Madi Melsoner, Im a

twenty year old student at Salt Lake
Community College working on getting
my generals done before transferring
to Utah State to pursue my major in
Wildlife Sciences. It was after I started
high school that I realized I suffer from
Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

I began to stress over unimportant

things, and experience panic attacks. If
one of my friends accidentally ignored
me or something, I would break down
thinking they didnt actually like me,
and I would just keep telling myself
that over and over again even if it
wasnt true.

WHAT IS ANXIETY?

What people think they

know
MANY PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD ANXIETY, AND
MISCONCEPTIONS COME TO MIND. ACCORDING TO
REACHOUT.COM THESE ARE THE MOST COMMON MYTHS
ABOUT ANXIETY.
1.

ANXIETY IS NOT A NORMAL PART OF LIFE.

2.

AVOIDING ANXIETY-PROVOKING SITUATIONS IS HELPFUL

3.

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO GET ANXIETY ARE JUST

NATURALLY NERVOUS ANYWAY

4.

IF YOU'RE HAVING PANIC ATTACKS, JUST GET USED TO IT.

5.

CARRYING AROUND A BROWN PAPER BAG THAT YOU CAN

HYPERVENTILATE INTO HELPS

6.

SOMEONE WITH ANXIETY JUST NEEDS A STIFF DRINK

AND THEYLL BE RIGHT

7.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE ANXIETY JUST NEED TO RELAX

8.

IT CAN TAKE A LIFETIME TO SEE RESULTS FROM

TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY

WHY WE FEEL
ANXIETY

ANXIETY IS INNATE. EACH ONE OF US IS BORN, ABLE

TO EXPERIENCE ANXIETY

SURVIVAL. IT KEEPS US PREPARE FOR DANGERS THAT

ARE VERY REAL OR MIGHT POTENTIALLY BECOME REAL

TIMES HAVE CHANGED. WE EXPERIENCE MORE STRESS

AND PRESSURES CONTINUOUSLY.

The Struggle

Some of the things I deal with include

crippling self doubt, restlessness or being
on edge, difficulty concentrating, irritability,
and sleep disturbance.

I also have to deal with the stigma that

mental illnesses arent real illnesses. I
constantly get told Youre fine. Its all in
your mind, nothing is wrong. or Why are
you freaking out about nothing?

One of my big triggers is being yelled or

snapped at. Ill usually go into a panic
attack and even after spend the rest of the
day thinking about the incident.

If Im not at least 10 minutes early to

everything, I get irritable because I think ill
be late which stresses me out even more.

Symptoms and other

issues that can come with
Anxiety
How to recognize
Anxiety

Types of Anxiety
Disorders

Related Conditions

Tense muscles

Panic

Depression

Trembling

Phobias

Substance abuse

Churning stomach

ADHD

Nausea

Eating disorders

Diarrhea

Generalized
Anxiety Disorder
(GAD)

Trouble Sleeping

Headache

Backache

Heart palpitations

Numbness or pins
and needles in
arms, hands or legs

Sweating/flushing

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7603
.php

Social Anxiety
Disorder

https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders

Understanding the Facts

http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety
Generalized Anxiety
Disorder (GAD) is an
excessive worrying
about problems that
occur everyday for
more than six months.
This worry can consist
of concerns of
financial well being,
health issues, work,
and even
relationships. The
person suffering from
GAD knows that there
is an unwarranted
emphasis placed on
their concerns.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/ge
neralized-anxiety-disorder-among-adults.shtml

Home Environment

My family is partially aware that I have GAD,

though not to a full extent so sometimes they
may do things that trigger an anxiety attack. We
are working on getting better about avoiding
triggers, but its hard sometimes.

My parents are partially to blame for the extent

of my anxiety. I was raised to strive for perfection
in everything, so when I fall short it hits me hard.

Types of Treatment
Make sure to speak with a professional

Self-Treatment

Learn to manage stress

Learn a variety of
relaxation techniques

Practice deep
abdominal breathing

Learn to replace
Negative self talk
with coping self talk

Picture yourself
successfully facing and
conquering a specific
fear

Talk with a person who

is supportive

Meditate

Exercise

Take a long, warm bath

Rest in a dark room

Counseling

Cognitivebehavioral therapy
(CBT)

Psychotherapy

Combination of
therapies

Medications

Diazepam (valium)
Alprazolam
(Xanax)

Lorazepam
(Avtivan)

Clonazepam
(Klonopin)

Reducing Anxiety

Reducing caffeine,
tea, cola, and
chocolate
consumption.

Checking with a
doctor or pharmacist
before using overthe-counter or herbal
remedies

Exercising regularly

Eating healthy food

keeping a regular
sleep pattern

Seeking counseling
and support after a
traumatic or
disturbing experience

Avoiding alcohol,
cannabis

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/anxiety/anxiety-treatments.php

How I Cope

Some of the ways I have found that help me

cope are to count down from 10 slowly if I feel
an attack coming on, or to find things in the
room that I can touch, see, hear and smell and
it helps ground me.

I am not currently on medication, though I may

get some soon to help.

Some other things I do are try to not take things

so personally, even though its hard sometimes.
I also do my best to try to avoid triggers at all
costs.

Why is awareness and

understanding important

Understanding the seriousness of GAD is

important because knowing when someone
might be suffering can help them be aware that
there are options for treatment. Being supportive
goes a long way. The last thing you want to do is
make someone feel ashamed to seek help

Audience Questions
Do you know anyone with
anxiety? If so, how much
do you understand of their
condition?

Work Cited
Anxiety & Behavioral Health clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2016, from
http://anxietyclinic.fsu.edu/aboutanxiety/main.php
Kessler, R., Chiu, W., & Walters, E. (n.d.). Generalized Anxiety Disorder Among Adults.
Retrieved February 27, 2016, from
http://
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/generalized-anxiety-disorder-among-adul
ts.shtml
Medical New Today. (n.d.). Treatments for Anxiety. Retrieved February 27, 2016, from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/anxiety/anxiety-treatments.php
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved February 27,
2016, from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/AnxietyDisorders
Nordqvist, C. (2014, September 8). What is anxiety? What causes anxiety? Retrieved
February 27, 2016, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7603.php
ReachOut Crew, S. (2015, August 12). 8 myths about anxiety, destroyed. Retrieved
February 27, 2016, from http://au.reachout.com/8-myths-about-anxiety-destroyed
Understanding the Facts of Anxiety Disorders and Depression is the First Step. (n.d.).
Retrieved February 27, 2016, from http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety