 Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps you deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, or keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps you cope. It usually ends soon after you are out of the situation that caused it. But for millions of people, the anxiety does not go away and gets worse over time. When anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it becomes a disabling disorder. The Anxiety Self-Test (available in your self-assessment booklet) will help you see if anxiety is a problem for you.
Anxiety Disorders
People with anxiety disorders feel extremely fearful and unsure. Most people feel anxious about something for a short time now and again, but people with anxiety disorders feel this way most of the time. Their fears and worries make it hard for them to do everyday tasks. About 18% of American adults have anxiety disorders. Children also may have them.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
All of us worry about things like health, money, or family problems at one time or another. But people with GAD are extremely worried about these and many other things, even when there is little or no reason to worry about them. They may be very anxious about just getting through the day. They think things will always go badly. At times, worrying keeps people with GAD from doing everyday tasks.
List of Common Symptoms
People with GAD…
- Worry very much about everyday things for at least six months, even if there is little or no reason to worry about them;
- Can't control their constant worries;
- Know that they worry much more than they should;
- Can't relax;
- Have a hard time concentrating;
- Are easily startled; and
- Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Common body symptoms are:
- Feeling tired for no reason;
- Headaches;
- Muscle tension and aches;
- Having a hard time swallowing;
- Trembling or twitching;
- Being irritable;
- Wweating;
- Nausea;
- Feeling lightheaded;
- Feeling out of breath;
- Having to go to the bathroom a lot; and
- Hot flashes.
When Does GAD Start?
GAD develops slowly. It often starts during the time between childhood and middle age. Symptoms may get better or worse at different times, and often are worse during times of stress. People with GAD may visit a doctor many times before they find out they have this disorder. They ask their doctors to help them with the signs of GAD, such as headaches or trouble falling asleep, but don't always get the help they need right away. It may take doctors some time to be sure that a person has GAD instead of something else.
Is There Help?
There is help for people with GAD. The first step is to go to a doctor or health clinic to talk about symptoms. People who think they have GAD may want to bring this material to the doctor to help them talk about the symptoms in it. The doctor will do an exam to make sure that another physical problem isn't causing the symptoms. The doctor may make a referral to a mental health specialist.
Doctors may prescribe medication to help relieve GAD. It's important to know that some of these medicines may take a few weeks to start working. In most states only a medical doctor (a family doctor or psychiatrist) can prescribe medications.
The kinds of medicines used to treat GAD are listed below. Some are used to treat other problems, such as depression, but also are helpful for GAD:
- Antidepressants,
- Anti-anxiety medicines, and
- Beta blockers.
Doctors also may ask people with GAD to go to therapy with a licensed social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Talk therapy can help people with GAD feel less anxious and fearful.
More Information
- Anxiety Disorders – information from the National Institute of Mental Health.
- Anxiety – information from Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
- Anxiety and Panic – information from FamilyDoctor.org, a service of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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