| Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by | | | | person's preference. Before treatment begins, a |
| persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about | | | | doctor must conduct a careful diagnostic evaluation to |
| everyday things. This worry goes on every day, | | | | determine whether a person's symptoms are caused |
| possibly all day. People with GAD feel their worrying is | | | | by an anxiety disorder or a physical problem. |
| beyond their control and can't be turned "off." People | | | | Treatment options includes: |
| with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) go through | | | | Medications - Medication will not cure anxiety disorders, |
| the day filled with exaggerated worry and tension, | | | | but it can keep them under control while the person |
| even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. They | | | | receives psychotherapy. |
| anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about | | | | Antidepressants - Antidepressants were developed to |
| health issues, money, family problems, or difficulties at | | | | treat depression but are also effective for anxiety |
| work. Sometimes just the thought of getting through | | | | disorders. Although these medications begin to alter |
| the day produces anxiety. | | | | brain chemistry after the very first dose, their full |
| People with generalized anxiety disorder can't seem to | | | | effect requires a series of changes to occur; it is |
| shake their concerns. Their worries are accompanied | | | | usually about 4 to 6 weeks before symptoms start to |
| by physical symptoms, especially fatigue, headaches, | | | | fade. |
| muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, | | | | SSRIs - Some of the newest antidepressants are |
| trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, and hot flashes. | | | | called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. |
| Common symptoms includes: | | | | SSRIs alter the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin |
| Restlessness | | | | in the brain, which, like other neurotransmitters, helps |
| Feeling of being keyed up or on edge | | | | brain cells communicate with one another. |
| Feeling a lump in your throat | | | | Psychotherapy involves talking with a trained mental |
| Difficulty concentrating | | | | health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, |
| Fatiguetrouble concentratingirritabilityeasy to | | | | social worker, or counselor, to discover what caused |
| startleprocrastination | | | | an anxiety disorder and how to deal with its |
| Impatience | | | | symptoms. |
| Being easily distracted | | | | If you think you have an anxiety disorder, the first |
| Muscle tension | | | | person you should see is your family doctor. A |
| Trouble falling or staying asleep (insomnia) | | | | physician can determine whether the symptoms that |
| Excessive sweating | | | | alarm you are due to an anxiety disorder, another |
| Shortness of breath | | | | medical condition, or both. |
| Stomachache | | | | People with generalized anxiety disorder can adopt a |
| Diarrhea | | | | number of effective self-help techniques. Using |
| Headache | | | | “self-talk” to intervene in your own anxious |
| In general, anxiety disorders are treated with | | | | thoughts forcing yourself to stop the cycle of anxiety |
| medication, specific types of psychotherapy, or both. | | | | and replace worried self-dialogue with practical |
| Treatment choices depend on the problem and the | | | | dialogue can help you learn how not to worry. |