Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Everyone experiences worry or stress from time to time. Going for a job interview or taking a test at school are normal sources of stress. However, persistent and extreme worry or anxiety might be symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
 
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition in which a person suffers from excessive anxiety. A person with GAD has may have trouble with concentrating on a task, sleeping or relaxing.
 
Often, a person with GAD has another anxiety disorder, depression or trouble with substance abuse. GAD is rarely a standalone condition but it is one of the most common anxiety disorders.
 
Generalized anxiety disorder usually begins during childhood or adolescence and it affects twice as many women as men.

Diagnosing Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed if a person has extreme bouts of worry for at least six months. Episodes increase gradually until a person can no longer control the anxiety. The cause for this anxiety disorder is unknown; however, many believe it is a combination of genes, biology, lifestyle and environment.
 
Some factors that may contribute to GAD are:
  • genetics
  • illness
  • previous hardships
  • stress.

Symptoms of GAD

Symptoms of GAD usually involve a marked physical reaction to whatever situation or perception is causing stress. These reactions include:
  • difficulty concentrating
  • difficulty swallowing
  • fatigue
  • feelings of tension
  • headaches
  • hot flashes
  • irritability
  • muscle tension
  • nausea
  • restlessness
  • sleep disturbances
  • trembling.

Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Your physician has a number of strategies for treating GAD. Most often, the treatment is tailored to a person's specific needs. One route is to prescribe medication. Anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications, or a combination of the two, are often used.
 
Another treatment option is therapy. A therapist can train a person to become desensitized to anxious environments or teach relaxation techniques.
 
Often, sufferers find success with a combination of medication and therapy. With either method, working with a medical professional is a great start to addressing the problem.

Living with GAD

Your therapist of physician will probably provide a number of helpful suggestions for preventing future anxiety attacks. Many of the resources for GAD sufferers are free and readily available.
 
Joining a support group has been a successful coping therapy for GAD patients. If you're too busy for meetings, an online support group can provide a resource of people who know exactly what you are going through and who are willing to share their experiences and success stories.
 
Attacking the source of your anxiety is another way to cope with GAD. If you're overwhelmed by deadlines at work or a huge school project, try to stop thinking about it and get started on it. If financial problems worry you, plan a budget. Taking control of your life is one of the best ways to avoid excessive stress and anxiety.
 
Resources
 
Grohol, J. (2007). Generalized anxiety disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from the Psych Central Web site: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx24.htm.
 
Health Scout Network. (2008). Generalized anxiety disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from the Healthscout.com Web site: http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/340/
main.html#SymptomsofGeneralizedAnxietyDisorder.
 
Mayo Clinic Staff (2007). Generalized anxiety disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/generalized-anxiety-disorder/DS00502/DSECTION=9.
 
The National Institute of Mental Health. (2008). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Retrieved April 22, 2008, from The National Institute of Mental Health Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad.shtml.