Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
Facts to Know

Feeling anxious isn’t necessarily unusual, considering all of the pressures we face on a daily basis. In fact, worrying occasionally is not only “normal” but rather expected. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), feeling anxious is “a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations.” Anxiety can help you to stay alert in the face of dangers and even prevent accidents from happening. There are benefits to anxiety, however, for many the negatives can outweigh the positives.

When anxiety becomes excessive, intense, persistent, difficult to control and/or affects your day-to-day life it may be worth a closer look. If you are experiencing excessive worrying to the extent that it is affecting your decisions, mood, thoughts, and behaviors you could be experiencing symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder or GAD.

What is GAD?

WebMD describes generalized anxiety disorder as being “characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry.” Those with generalized anxiety disorder often “expect disaster and can’t stop worrying about health, money, family, work, or school.” Symptoms of GAD can be overwhelming and often last for extended periods of time.

The fear or apprehension experienced is usually unrealistic or disproportionate to the situation. The worry can also be accompanied by many unwanted physical symptoms. You may be feeling constantly fearful, worried and full of dread. Without treatment, GAD can dominate your thinking, overwhelm you and disrupt your everyday functioning.

You aren’t alone.

Anxiety is noted as being rather common “affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population…” and “GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population,” says NIMH. GAD is so common in the United States, that over 42 billion dollars a year is spent treating it, according to a study commissioned by ADAA – which is approximately one-third of the country’s mental health budget.

GAD can affect anyone.

GAD can affect children, teens, adults, and older adults. Children and adolescents may exhibit symptoms by refusing to go to school, excessive fears, social isolation or aggression. As a result, they may miss out on various social and academic engagements and experiences, perform poorly in school, and/or get involved in risky behaviors.

GAD also affects a significant portion of the older adult population. Late-life GAD could be linked to chronic illness, taking multiple medications, solitary living or the “empty nest” syndrome and/or the grief for lost loved ones.

Symptoms of GAD may include:

  • Excessive, ongoing worry and tension
  • Restlessness or a feeling of being “edgy”
  • Irritability
  • Muscle tension
  • Headaches
  • Sweating
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Nausea
  • The need to go to the bathroom frequently
  • Tiredness
  • Trouble falling or staying asleep
  • Trembling
  • Being easily startled

Anxiety can present physically.

Studies show that people with generalized anxiety disorder are likely to see a doctor or mental health professional more often for various medical and emotional symptoms/conditions. Anxiety can also impact your immune system, causing you to become prone to many other medical conditions.

GAD often co-occurs with depression and other emotional conditions

Because there is some overlap in symptoms, anxiety symptoms can easily be confused for something else. GAD often co-occurs with bipolar disorder, ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) headaches and chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), sleep and eating disorders, fibromyalgia, body dysmorphic disorder, and substance abuse.

It’s not unusual for an individual with GAD to also suffer from depression and for the depressed to suffer from anxiety. In fact, studies show that nearly 50 percent of those diagnosed with depression also have anxiety.

GAD can be treated.

Anxiety symptoms can be overwhelming, therapy can help. Unfortunately, statistics show that only about one-third of those with clinical anxiety are receiving treatment. Like any condition, GAD symptoms often need to be treated sooner rather than later for the best possible prognosis.

GAD is a serious condition that should be treated by an experienced therapist. A counselor independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Cameron, NC, on Hwy 87, near Linden Oaks can help. Therapy is an invaluable process that allows you to be involved in your own recovery. Call today to make your first appointment!

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