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Generalized Anxiety Symptoms

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry over day-to-day things, such as family, health, death and money, as defined by Anxiety Disorder Association of America (ADAA). Constant worries distract you from your daily activities, or you feel afraid that something bad is going to happen. If you suffer from this disorder, you may experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches and insomnia. According to the Anxiety Disorder Association of British Columbia (see Resources), many people with generalized anxiety disorder seek relief for the physical symptoms without addressing the problem of anxiety.

  1. The Facts

    • Most people feel anxious from time to time, but people with generalized anxiety disorder feel that way most of the time. If you have been worrying about everyday things almost constantly for at least six months, even when there is no apparent reason to worry, you may be suffering from GAD. Some physical symptoms you may experience include restlessness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. You may startle easily or suffer from headaches or nausea. You want to stop worrying, but you can't.

    Significance

    • More than 6 million adults, or approximately 3 percent of the population in the United States, have generalized anxiety disorder. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men, according to ADAA. People with anxiety disorders are more likely to seek medical care from their primary care physician than people who have other forms of mental illness, according to Healthline (see Resources). The most common reason these patients seek treatment is for relief of physical symptoms.

    Considerations

    • The cause of generalized anxiety disorder is unknown. The disorder comes on gradually, and it can begin causing difficulty at any time in life, although the most common age of onset is between childhood and middle age. Possible causes include environmental stresses and brain chemistry, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Misconceptions

    • A common misconception is that GAD is the same thing as panic disorder. Panic disorder is a separate condition characterized by panic attacks and fear of another episode of panic. A panic attack happens suddenly, usually peaks in about 10 minutes and then subsides. The symptoms of generalized anxiety are not as dramatic. They include commonplace symptoms, such as irritability, headache and an ongoing sense of worry.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Generalized anxiety disorder is a treatable condition. For many people with this condition, self-help may be all that is needed to get it under control. Lifestyle changes such as exercising and avoiding caffeine may help reduce overall anxiety levels, according to Anxiety Disorder Association of British Columbia. When self-help isn't enough, other treatment options include medication, as well as different forms of therapy. A common therapy used to treat GAD is cognitive-behavioral therapy, a combination of working to change unwanted thought patterns and striving to gain control over unwanted behavior. Alternative treatments for this disorder include relaxation techniques, such as calm breathing and muscle relaxation, according to ADA of British Columbia.

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