How to Spot General Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

If you have experienced excessive worrying for six months or more, you may be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder can affect anyone but affects women more than men. Adults between the ages of 20 and 30 have the highest incidence of the disorder but it can appear at any age. Check with your doctor if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms.

Instructions

• 1

  Consider whether you worry a lot, and whether you can control the worrying. Worrying excessively or having anxiety more often than not for a period of six months may indicate a problem.

• 2

  Determine if you have a mix of anxiety and worry combined with three or more of the following symptoms: trouble sleeping, feeling restless or keyed up, difficulty concentrating or remembering, fatigue and poor stamina, irritability and tense muscles.

• 3

  Check to see if you show generalized anxiety disorder in other physical ways like shortness of breath, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems, stomach ache or "feeling a lump in your throat."

• 4

  Look for upheaval in your personal, professional or social life. If severe, the disorder can interfere with day-to-day functioning.

• 5

  If you're often anxious, ask yourself if the worry you feel is in proportion to the situation you're in. If there is no real danger, but you consistently perceive yourself to be in danger, this is an indication that you may be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder.

• 6

  Seek help. You don't have to live with constant anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder can be treated with psychological counseling, anti-anxiety medication or a combination of the two treatments.