Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Short Description

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, isn’t just being “a little stressed.” It’s a persistent, hard-to-control worry that sticks around for months, and it can hijack your thoughts, sleep, and even your body. People with GAD face constant worries, tiredness and other symptoms derived from an overactive mind.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

People with GAD might overthink everything, expect disaster, or feel constantly on edge for no clear reason. It can cause fatigue, nausea, muscle tension, and a brain that just won’t quiet down. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, GAD affects 6.8 million American adults, but less than half receive treatment. And while adult stats get quoted more often, it doesn’t skip over teens. The National Institute of Mental Health found that 2.2% of U.S. adolescents have GAD. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is often effective, and medication can also be helpful. But the biggest step? Understanding it’s not just in someone’s head. It’s real, and it’s treatable.

Symptoms

There are many notable symptoms of GAD including the aforementioned fatigue, nausea, muscle tension and constant worries. 

Additional and equally important identifiable symptoms can include:

  • Twitching

  • Sweatiness

  • Irritability

  • Decreased performance at school or work

  • Worries of safety

  • Perfectionism

  • Lack of confidence

  • Situation avoidance

Other Types of Anxiety

Classifications of the following are provided more in-depth by The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) 

  • Panic Disorder: Characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks defined as sudden surges of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest pain. Individuals often develop persistent concern about future attacks and may change behaviors to avoid triggering situations.

  • Agoraphobia: Involves fear or avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help might be unavailable if panic-like symptoms occur. Common fears include crowds, public transportation, open spaces, or being outside alone. The anxiety leads to significant avoidance and can result in severe restrictions on independence.

  • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): While having mood symptoms, an individual also has premenstrual syndrome. Symptoms include extreme irritability, anxiety, or depression. After an individual's period, these symptoms can improve, but can be severe enough to affect aspects of one's life.

  • Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder: Anxiety symptoms that develop as a direct result of substance use, intoxication, withdrawal, or medication. The anxiety exceeds what would be expected from typical side effects and causes significant distress or impairment. Symptoms may resemble panic attacks or generalized anxiety and resolve when the substance subsides.

  • Anxiety Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition: Occurs when anxiety symptoms are a direct physiological consequence of a medical condition, such as thyroid disease, heart conditions, or neurological disorders. The anxiety is not better explained by another mental disorder and can include panic, generalized anxiety, or phobic symptoms linked to the medical issue.

  • Other Specified Anxiety Disorder: Used when significant anxiety symptoms cause distress or impairment but do not meet full criteria for a specific anxiety disorder. Clinicians specify the reason, such as limited-symptom panic attacks or anxiety that occurs only in specific contexts.

  • Unspecified Anxiety Disorder: A diagnosis used when anxiety symptoms are present and clinically significant, but there is insufficient information to make a specific diagnosis. This category is often used in emergency or short-term settings where full diagnostic criteria cannot yet be assessed.

Treatments

The most effective methods of treating GAD involve medications or psychological treatment. It is highly recommended to seek care if you have even a few symptoms of an anxiety disorder.

Psychological treatments are typically the first methods of treatment for GAD. These treatments can teach new coping and management methods. The most common and effective method of psychotherapy for GAD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is usually short-term and helps rehabilitate the patient, easing them into avoided behaviors and activities.

Psychological treatments can be combined with medications including:

  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

  • Serotonin-norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

  • Buspirone

  • Benzodiazepines

It is also important to remember that if you are in immediate danger of self-harm or have thoughts of suicide:

  • Remember, you are not alone, and this isn't an abnormal feeling.

  • Talking to someone is not the same as being burdensome, and those around you would gladly hear you out and are there to help you

  • This involves friends, family, and even workers

  • Joining a support group can be very beneficial and allows you to surround yourself with people who understand what you are going through

  • Talking to a healthcare worker, doctor, or counselor is highly recommended

    By Trace Ribble