UNDERSTANDING THE AYURVEDIC CONCEPT OF CHITTODVEGA IN THECONTEXT OF GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER AND ITS MANAGEMENTTHROUGH AYURVEDA

Generalised anxiety disorder is among the most common mental health conditions. Up to 20% of people are af-fected by anxiety problems each year. An ongoing feeling of overwhelm, fear, and concern are signs of general-ised anxiety disorder. Generalised anxiety disorder is characterised by excessive, irrational, and persistent worry about everyday issues. This worry may have several aspects, including financial, family, health, and future con-cerns. Most people with GAD also have additional mental diseases, such as panic disorder, social anxiety disor-der, significant depression, or particular phobia. Generalised anxiety disorder can affect both adults and children. The sickness often begins in infancy or adolescence but can begin at any age. GAD is twice as common in women and those assigned female at birth as it is in men and those assigned male at birth. Charaka stated the Manasavikara (mental disorder) Chittodvega (anxiety), which is said to be the ideal word to highlight the state of anxiety, namely generalised anxiety disorder. Both as a distinct illness and as a contributing component to other psychological and psychosomatic disorders, Chittodvega can occur. According to clinical investigations, anxiolytic medications by themselves have limited long-term effectiveness, and serious side effects such as se-dation, drug dependency, and resistance cannot be avoided. Ayurveda takes a psychosocial approach to medi-cine. Acharya Charaka describes three forms of treatment for mental and physical illnesses: Satwavajaya Chikitsa (Psychotherapy), Yuktivyapashraya (Rational therapy), and Daivavyapashraya (Spiritual therapy). Apart from these, we can also treat mental illness through counselling. Thus, the current study examines Chittodvega from the Ayurvedic classics and how to handle it.