Are you a chronic anxious worrier? Are you having trouble controlling your worry? If so…
- Do you feel tense; do your muscles ache from the tension?
- Are you irritable and cranky?
- Do you have chronic problems with sleep… getting to sleep, staying asleep, waking too early, too much sleep, too little sleep?
- Are you often easily fatigued?
- Do you have more and more problems with your memory or concentration?
If you answered yes to three or more of these symptoms, and if you’ve been feeling this way for 6 months or more, you may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
GAD is one of the anxiety disorders found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — the basis for psychiatric diagnosis, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
People with GAD worry about many things. Their worries are not attributable to another psychiatric disorder. For example:
- It is not just worrying about the next panic attack (Panic Disorder);
- It is not just worrying about being humiliated in public (Social Phobia);
- It is not just worry about contamination or other obsessive fears (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder);
- It is not just worry about being away from home or a close family member (Separation Anxiety);
- It is not just worry about gaining weight (Anorexia Nervosa);
- It is not just worry about having certain diseases or illnesses (Hypochondriasis), etc.
Although all of these worries can be very difficult, they DO NOT define what we consider to be GAD.
What GAD is, is a chronic state of exaggerated worry and tension even when there isn’t anything to worry about. People with GAD worry about everything, and when they aren’t worried about something, they worry that they are forgetting to worry!
This persistent worrying causes muscle tension and stress, and problems with sleep and memory. The worries of GAD are often accompanied by physical symptoms in addition to the tension. Some folks with GAD describe problems with swallowing, twitching, and sweating.
It is difficult to relax and often difficult to sleep. People with mild GAD are able to function around the disorder. However, some people have trouble working, going to school, and managing their lives.
The National Institute of Mental Health tells us that there are over 6.8 million Americans with GAD (twice as many women as men).
They further state that the symptoms of GAD usually come on gradually and that it can first occur at any point in the life cycle. If you think you have an anxiety disorder like GAD, you should consult with your physician. There are medication treatments that can be helpful, and you can get a referral to a mental health professional.
Whether or not you choose to utilize the potential benefits of prescription therapy, counseling can help you learn how to manage your symptoms. Meditation, breathing techniques, relaxation exercises, and other stress management tools can be very helpful to minimize the effects of worry.
Remember, you are not alone. Contact your physician or a mental health professional and get the help you need to take charge of your mood!
For more information on Generalized Anxiety Disorder, check out: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Information
There is also a quiz on Lexapro’s website testing for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: GAD Self Test
It is always suggested that you consult a medical professional if you think you are suffering from any mental disorder.
