Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is more common than you might think. It affects up to 20% of adults each year, leaving them feeling constantly worried and overwhelmed. Imagine that nagging feeling you get before a big presentation, but for everyday things like finances, family, or even just the future.
GAD isn’t just a case of the jitters though.
It’s a persistent, excessive worry that’s hard to control. It can also come with a whole range of physical and emotional symptoms that make it even tougher to manage.
Here’s the thing: you’re not alone. Millions of people, both adults and children, experience GAD. While it can develop at any point in life, it often starts during childhood or teenage years. It’s also important to note that GAD affects men and people assigned male at birth about twice as often as women and people assigned female at birth.
Symptoms and Causes
Those who have general anxiety disorder may:
- excessive worry about regular issues
- have difficulty regulating their fears or jittery feelings
- recognize that their worry is excessive
- felt agitated and unable to unwind
- having difficulties focusing
- easily startled
- difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
- easily or perpetually exhausted
- having headache, aches in your muscles or joints, stomachaches, or other pains
- having difficulty swallowing
- tremble or twitch
- felt agitated or “on edge”
- feeling out of breath, dizzy, or sweating a lot
- using the bathroom frequently
People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) often find themselves consumed by excessive worry. This can range from fretting about achievements in school or sports to fearing future disasters like earthquakes or war. They may also constantly worry about the well-being of loved ones, like family members.
These anxieties can manifest in everyday situations too, causing them to feel stressed about job performance, health concerns, finances, or even just completing daily chores and errands. Never feeling “on top of things” can be a hallmark of GAD.
Physical symptoms like discomfort, exhaustion, or shortness of breath that make it difficult to function and disrupt everyday life can affect both children and adults with GAD. The severity of symptoms can change over time and is sometimes exacerbated by stressful situations, such as illness or tests at school or in the workplace.
If this sounds familiar, don’t hesitate to reach out to a doctor or therapist. Talking to a professional can help you manage your worries and find ways to feel calmer and more in control.
Causes
Both environmental and genetic factors, such as the ones listed below, can be causes of and risk factors for GAD.
- an anxiety disorder in the family
- exposure to stressful conditions recently or over a long period of time, including personal or family illnesses
- excessive coffee or smoke usage, which can exacerbate already-existing anxiety
- childhood abuse or bullying
- some medical problems, like thyroid issues or heart arrhythmias
Diagnosis and Tests
Your doctor can conduct a mental health screening to identify GAD. They will inquire about your symptoms and how long you have experienced them. A mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, may also be recommended by them.
In order to ascertain whether an underlying sickness or problem with substance abuse is the cause of your symptoms, your doctor may also order medical testing. Anxiety is related to:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- thyroid conditions
- heart problem
- epilepsy
- bipolar disorder
- pheochromocytoma
- using decongestants, caffeine, or albuterol
Your primary care physician may order additional testing if they think that a medical condition or substance addiction problem is the source of your worry. They may consist of:
- blood tests to measure hormone levels that may be indicative of a thyroid condition
- urine tests are used to detect drug usage.
- tests for gastric reflux, such as a digestive system X-ray or an endoscopic to examine your esophagus to look for GERD
- stress tests and X-rays are used to look for heart problems.
Management and Treatment
Obtaining a diagnosis, typically from a mental health professional, is the first step in receiving effective therapy. Psychotherapy (often known as “talk therapy”), medication, or a combination of the two are typically used to treat GAD.
Psychotherapy
Treatment for GAD frequently involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy with research support. You learn new ways to think, act, and respond to events through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help you feel less nervous and worried. CBT is the gold standard for psychotherapy and has undergone extensive research.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an additional GAD treatment option. ACT approaches negative thoughts differently than CBT and employs techniques like goal-setting and mindfulness to lessen your discomfort and anxiety.
Because ACT is a more recent type of psychotherapy than CBT, there are less studies evaluating its efficacy. Yet, different therapies are effective for various sorts of people, so talking about the potential best therapy might be helpful.
Medication
To treat GAD, medical professionals may recommend medication. It is possible for various medications to be successful, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are antidepressants
- Drugs that reduce anxiety, like benzodiazepines
Antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs are frequently prescribed to treat depression, but they can also be used to alleviate GAD symptoms. It can take a few weeks for them to start working. Moreover, some drugs may have unwanted effects like nausea, headaches, or trouble sleeping. For the majority of people, these side effects are typically not serious, especially if the dose is first modest and then gradually increased over time. Any side effects you may have should be discussed with your healthcare professional.
Benzodiazepines, which are anti-anxiety sedative drugs, also can be used to address severe types of GAD. These drugs can significantly reduce anxiety quickly, but some people develop a tolerance to them and require increasing doses to achieve the same results. Some people even get dependent on them. Hence, if you require them, a healthcare professional may only prescribe them for short periods of time.
Another anti-anxiety drug that can be used to treat GAD is Buspirone. Buspirone is not a sedative and is less likely to become addictive than benzodiazepines. Buspirone needs to be taken for 3–4 weeks for it to be fully effective.
It may take time for both psychotherapy and medicine to take effect. Before discovering the prescription that works best for them, many people try several. The optimal drug, dosage, and course of therapy for you can be determined in collaboration with a healthcare professional.
Prevention
Although it is impossible to know with certainty what may lead someone to acquire generalized anxiety disorder, there are steps you can do to lessen the severity of symptoms if you do:
- Get assistance as soon as possible. Waiting to get treatment for anxiety, like many other mental health issues, might make it more difficult.
- Create a journal. You and your mental health practitioner can determine what’s stressing you out and what seems to make you feel better by keeping track of your personal life.
- Prioritize problems in life. You can lessen worry by carefully managing your time and energy.
- Prevent unhealthy substance usage. Using nicotine or caffeine, along with alcohol and other drugs, can increase or worsen anxiety. Giving up any of these substances can be difficult if you’re hooked on them.
Depending on how bad the condition is, the prognosis (outlook) for generalized anxiety disorder can change. GAD can occasionally be a persistent condition that is challenging to manage. However, with medication and/or talk therapy, the majority of patients see an improvement in their symptoms.
The following mental and physical disorders can result from, or worsen as a result of, generalized anxiety disorder complications:
- Depression (often occurs concomitantly with an anxiety problem)
- Insomnia
- Alcohol or drug abuse disorder
- Issues with the digestive system
- Social Isolation
- Functional issues at job or school
- Affected quality of life
- Potential for suicide
Over to You
While medical treatment is a crucial part of managing generalized anxiety disorder, there’s a lot you can do to empower yourself. By adopting healthy habits, incorporating stress-reduction techniques, and avoiding substances that worsen anxiety, you can significantly improve your well-being.
Additionally, connecting with a support group can provide valuable understanding and camaraderie. Remember, support groups offer shared experiences, not medical advice, so always consult your healthcare or mental health professional for personalized guidance.
