anxiety

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday things. This worry goes on every day, all day long. People with GAD feel their worrying is beyond their control and can't be turned "off." They often expect the worst, even when there is no good reason for concern. Their excessive worrying is often about health, family, money or work. This worry is hard to control, and occurs on more days than not for at least six months. The unrelenting worry interferes with every day living and can affect all areas of life, including social, work/school and family.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with tense situations in the office and at home. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it becomes debilitating.

If you often feel very anxious without reason and your worries disrupt your daily life, you may have generalized anxiety disorder. Living with generalized anxiety disorder can be difficult, but treatment is available. Medications and psychotherapy can help ease symptoms, and you can learn healthy coping skills to manage generalized anxiety disorder and take back your life.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder can vary in combination or severity. Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms may include:

Restlessness
Feeling of being keyed up or on edge
Feeling a lump in your throat
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Irritability
Impatience
Being easily distracted
Muscle tension
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Excessive sweating
Shortness of breath
Stomachache
Diarrhea

Causes

Unfortunately, the causes for Generalized Anxiety Disorder isn't fully understood. Researchers believe that it may involve naturally occurring chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and nor epinephrine. However, it's likely that the condition has a complex set of causes that may include your body's biological processes, genetics and your environment and life situation.

Treatment

The two main treatments for generalized anxiety disorder are psychotherapy and/or medications, Alternative therapies that address the mind and body connection such as hypnosis, biofeedback, physical exercise, yoga, tai chi, and meditation are also being used very effectively to treat anxiety disorders. A combination of all of these therapies is the best way to treat GAD.

Psychotherapy

Research shows that cognitive behavior therapy can help improve symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavior therapy helps you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. It's based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave. Even if an unwanted situation doesn't change, you can change the way you think about the situation. More and more clinicians are now seeing the value of also incorporating hypnotherapy, biofeedback and EMDR (when appropriate) with psychotherapy for treating GAD.

Medications

Sometimes the symptoms of GAD are so debilitating that your physician may feel you would benefit from medications. Several different types of medications are used to relieve generalized anxiety disorder symptoms:

All medications must be closely monitored by your physician to assure your well-being. It is crucial to elicit a physician and psychotherapist that are willing to work as a team.