Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive worry about ordinary day-to-day events or situations lasting at least six months. Those suffering from GAD experience persistent and intense worry that severely hinders their ability to relax. They commonly feel agitated or tense, making it extremely difficult to concentrate on tasks. While it’s normal to feel some level of worry about work, family, school, finances, and health, those with GAD feel constant worry that significantly affects their social interactions, work performance, and overall well-being. Studies indicate that Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects approximately 6.8 million adults in the United States, with women being twice as likely to be affected by the condition than men. It’s also worth noting that individuals who experience GAD often encounter Major Depression. They are highly comorbid conditions.

Treatment

The treatment for GAD involves a combination of therapeutic approaches, with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) being the first-line treatment for GAD. The goal is to identify and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs contributing to excessive worry. Through CBT, individuals learn to develop more balanced and realistic thoughts and coping strategies to manage anxiety. Coping strategies include relaxation techniques, such as mindful meditation, to help calm the body and mind. Mindful meditation involves intentionally and non-judgmentally focusing on the present moment to enhance emotional regulation and improve overall well-being and life satisfaction. Another technique, called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is employed to help individuals learn to tolerate uncertainty by gradually confronting their fears and resisting their safety behaviors. Lastly, medication management can also be beneficial, especially in severe cases.

Chronic tension

Muscle aches and pains

Stomach problems (Irritable Bowl Syndrome, diarrhea)

Restlessness

Sleep disturbance

Irritable or agitated

Fatigue or exhaustion

Sweating

Nausea

Dizziness (Chronic Subjective Dizziness)

Excessive urge for urination

Lack of Concentration

When we feel we are in danger our body’s fight or flight response gets activated. But oftentimes, we aren’t in eminent danger, but our bodies react as though we are. We may feel our hearts racing, shortness of breath, sweaty palms and/or dizziness. This is especially true with many anxiety disorders. When our body’s false alarm gets activated and we react to it by escaping our feared situation or avoiding the discomforts our fears create, we only intensify our fears. However, by not reacting or responding to our false alarm and moving towards our fears, we can teach our brain to recognized that it’s a false alarm, rather than an actual threat.