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Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is much more than the
normal anxiety people experience day to day. It's chronic
and exaggerated worry and tension, even though nothing seems
to provoke it. Having this disorder means always anticipating
disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money,
family, or work. Sometimes, though, the source of the worry
is hard to pinpoint. Simply the thought of getting through
the day provokes anxiety.
People with GAD can't seem to shake their concerns, even
though they usually realize that their anxiety is more intense
than the situation warrants. People with GAD also seem unable
to relax. They often have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Their worries are accompanied by physical symptoms, especially
trembling, twitching, muscle tension, headaches, irritability,
sweating, or hot flashes. They may feel lightheaded or out
of breath. They may feel nauseated or have to go to the bathroom
frequently. Or they might feel as though they have a lump
in the throat.
Many individuals with GAD startle more easily than other
people. They tend to feel tired, have trouble concentrating,
and sometimes suffer depression, too.
Usually the impairment associated with GAD is mild and people
with the disorder don't feel too restricted in social settings
or on the job. Unlike many other anxiety disorders, people
with GAD don't characteristically avoid certain situations
as a result of their disorder. However, if severe, GAD can
be very debilitating, making it difficult to carry out even
the most ordinary daily activities.
GAD comes on gradually and most often hits people in childhood
or adolescence, but can begin in adulthood, too. It's more
common in women than in men and often occurs in relatives
of affected persons. It's diagnosed when someone spends at
least 6 months worried excessively about a number of everyday
problems.
Specific Symptoms of this Disorder:
Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring
more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of
events or activities (such as work or school performance).
The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more)
of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms
present for more days than not for the past 6 months; children
don't need to meet as many criteria).
* restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
* being easily fatigued
* difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
* irritability
* muscle tension
* sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep,
or restless unsatisfying sleep)
Additionally, the anxiety or worry is not about having a
Panic Attack, being embarrassed in public (as in Social Phobia),
being contaminated (as in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder),
being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation
Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in Anorexia Nervosa),
having multiple physical complaints (as in Somatization Disorder),
or having a serious illness (as in Hypochondriasis), and the
anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically
significant distress or impairment in social, occupational,
or other important areas of functioning.
The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects
of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a
general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does
not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic
Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
References:
1. American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic
and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition.
Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
2. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental
Health, NIH Publication No. 95-3879 (1995)
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