James Fitzgerald Therapy PLLC

Introduction

Generalized anxiety disorder is a mental health condition in which you have excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday life, even when there’s no reason to. You may also experience physical symptoms such as muscle tension, restlessness and fatigue. People with GAD tend to worry about things that others might not find particularly worrisome. For example, they may worry about their health, work performance, finances, or family problems. While stress is a normal part of life, people with GAD experience an exaggerated response to stressors that other people may not find particularly stressful at all. This can lead to significant problems in their personal relationships and at work because they have trouble controlling their worry or experiencing pleasure from everyday activities like going out with friends or watching television.

Prevalence

GAD is one of the most common mental health disorders in adults and can affect people of any age. It is estimated that 3%–6% of adults have GAD at some point in their lives, which means it is likely that you know someone who has experienced the symptoms associated with this condition. Approximately 6.8 million adults in the United States experience GAD in a given year. It’s more common among women than men with lifetime prevalence rates of 5% versus 2%, respectively (Kessler et al., 2005). It often begins during adolescence or early adulthood. People may have one episode of GAD or multiple episodes throughout their lives.

Symptoms of GAD include:

— restlessness

— feeling on edge or keyed up

— difficulty concentrating or mind going blank

— irritability

— muscle tension

— sleep disturbances

Causes and Risk Factors

GAD has no single cause, but rather develops from a combination of factors that include genetics, family history, environmental influences (such as depression, past stressors, trauma in childhood and/or adulthood, and/or loss), and current life stressors. For most people, the condition tends to run in families; if you have an immediate family member with GAD, you are more likely to develop it yourself.

Treatment and Coping

There are several types of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder that can help manage symptoms: medication; cognitive behavioral therapy; mindfulness-based therapy; relaxation techniques; and alternative therapies like acupuncture and yoga.