The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) estimates that 6.8 million people suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the U.S. alone. Women find themselves twice as likely to suffer from the disorder then men, and it usually combines with other disorders to create an umbrella effect over a persons daily activities.
Generalized anxiety disorder is a “double-whammy” of sorts as it effects the physical and psychological well-being of sufferers. Because many of the symptoms can be attributed to stress and other outside factors GAD can be overlooked.
The general characteristics of GAD center on the persistent and obsessive onset of worry in an individual. Those afflicted with the disorder simply can not tune out the impulse to worry over every detail in their daily lives.
GAD is a serious disorder that can cause great distress in everyday life. The excessive worrying can last all day and go on throughout the night, causing insomnia and other sleep-related disorders. GAD can rob the sufferer of their ability to cope with their jobs, social, and personal obligations.
It is this constant need to worry can span over months and take its toll on the individual, causing them to manifest the negative feelings in the form of physical ailments. Coupled with the enormous amount of mental trauma that can accompany GAD the disorder can simply shut the sufferer down completely, making them lethargic and unable to deal with even the simplest of life’s demands.
Physical symptoms are the first indicators of generalized anxiety disorder as they tend to plague the individual on a daily basis. Keeping a watchful eye of physical symptoms along with psychological ones can help determine if a person is suffering from GAD. Physical symptoms of GAD include (but are not limited to):
- muscle tension
- fatigue
- restlessness
- difficulty sleeping
- irritability
- edginess
- gastrointestinal discomfort (nausea, diarrhea)
Muscle tension, and fatigue are ailments that can be overlooked by outsiders. Restlessness and difficulty sleeping are symptoms that many attribute to stress and may not be taken into consideration. Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea can be chalked up to a cold or flu.
Psychological symptoms can be tricky to diagnose because they can be dismissed for routine stressors. Irritability, moodiness, and depression can result from the deluge of negative emotions linked to such extreme worrying.
When dealing with generalized anxiety disorder it is important to recognize a combination of symptoms and how they are manifested in an individual. Sharing any and all information with your doctor can give a broader view of what be present and allow for effective treatment.
