What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

April 18, 6:27 PMDenver Mental Health ExaminerSierra Koester

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD is an anxiety disorder affecting approximately 8-9% of Americans, according to the Mental Health Channel.  GAD affects more women than men; more specifically, while the disorder affects 40% of men, it affects 60% of women.  GAD can significantly affect one’s relationships, social, academic, and occupational lives. 

An individual who suffers from GAD experiences excessive worry or anxiety about a variety of events or activities, which may include things like school, relationships, work, and social events.  The individual experiences this worry or anxiety for a period of six months or more on more days than not.  Additionally, an individual suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder finds it difficult to control his or her worry.

Individuals with this condition also experience three or more of the following symptoms for the duration of six months or more on more days than not in addition to their excessive anxiety: sleeping difficulties, feeling on edge or restlessness, muscle tension, being fatigued easily, irritability, and experiencing the mind going blank or having difficulty concentrating.  Finally, people who suffer from GAD experience significant distress or impairment in academic, social, occupational, or other area of functioning. 

If you suffer from excessive worry, please seek professional help from a therapist and your doctor.  There are treatments that can help improve your symptoms and help you learn how to cope with worry.  For instance, cognitive-behavioral therapy will teach you how to identify irrational anxiety and how to replace irrational thoughts with rational ones. 

Medication is also sometimes used in the treatment of GAD.  Your doctor may prescribe medication to you or he or she may choose to refer you to a psychiatrist for medication management.  Antidepressants, such as Paxil and Effexor XR, benzodiazepines, such as Ativan, Xanax, Librium, Klonopin, and Valium, beta-blockers, and busparine may all be used to treat the symptoms of GAD.  What medication is prescribed to you will depend on your situation and your tolerance for side effects. 

If you feel you may have GAD, please seek help.  Doing so will put you on the path to living a more fulfilled and enjoyable life again.