| Worrying about that presentation at work next week? | | | | If you have GAD, there are many things you can do to |
| Feeling anxious about an upcoming medical exam? | | | | make yourself feel better and you don't necessarily |
| Stressing about your kids' welfare? Worries are part | | | | have to seek out professional help. For some, self-help |
| and parcel of leading a busy life in this modern, hectic | | | | strategies are enough to get the anxiety symptoms |
| world, but when the worries take over and become | | | | under control. For others, additional therapy and |
| something more serious like General Anxiety Disorder | | | | support is needed. But whether you seek medical |
| (GAD), they can impact on your health and happiness. | | | | attention or not, self-help coping techniques will help |
| Approximately 6.8 million American adults suffer from | | | | reduce your overall anxiety levels. |
| General Anxiety Disorder and some believe that | | | | Effective self-help techniques for generalized anxiety |
| number is increasing each year. | | | | disorder (GAD) include: |
| So what is General Anxiety Disorder? | | | | Dealing with your worry and anxiety in a |
| It is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by an | | | | productive way such as challenging irrational |
| excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry | | | | worrisome thoughts, learning how to postpone |
| about everyday things that is disproportionate to the | | | | worrying, and learning to accept uncertainty in your life. |
| actual source of worry. As well as the irrational | | | | Instigating anxiety-reducing lifestyle changes, such |
| worries about wealth, health and the well-being of | | | | as eliminating caffeine, starting an exercise program, |
| family and friends, GAD sufferers often exhibit a | | | | improving your diet, and drawing on the support of |
| variety of physical symptoms that can include fatigue, | | | | family and friends. |
| headaches, nausea, muscle tension or aches, | | | | Learning and practicing relaxation techniques, such |
| numbness in hands and feet, trembling, twitching and | | | | as meditation, deep breathing and yoga. Consciously |
| rashes. | | | | relaxing for even 20 minutes can make a difference! |
| How do you know if you have General Anxiety | | | | When to seek treatment |
| Disorder rather than just "normal" worries? | | | | If despite trying out the self-help techniques listed |
| "Normal" worries include | | | | above your anxiety is still getting in the way of your life |
| Your worrying doesn't get in the way of your daily | | | | and/or your emotional well-being, it's time to seek |
| activities and responsibilities. | | | | professional help. Before you do that, though, it is |
| You are able to control your worrying. | | | | important to make sure that your symptoms are truly |
| Your worries, while unpleasant, don't cause | | | | due to GAD. If you have struggled with anxiety and |
| significant distress. | | | | fears your whole life, it's likely that your anxiety |
| Your worries are limited to a specific, small number | | | | symptoms are due to GAD. However, if your anxiety |
| of realistic concerns. | | | | symptoms are relatively new, this could be a sign of a |
| Your bouts of worrying last only a short time | | | | different problem. For example, many medical |
| period. | | | | conditions and medications can cause anxiety, as can |
| General Anxiety Disorder | | | | traumatic experiences. The worries created by these |
| Your worrying significantly disrupts your job, | | | | situations are usually short-lived and not related to |
| activities, or social life. | | | | GAD. |
| Your worrying is uncontrollable. | | | | It can be difficult for the possible GAD sufferer to be |
| Your worries are extremely upsetting and | | | | objective about their symptoms so it is always best to |
| stressful. | | | | seek a mental health professional to get an accurate |
| You worry about all sorts of things, and tend to | | | | diagnosis and appropriate treatment. GAD is often |
| expect the worst. | | | | accompanied by other problems, such as depression, |
| You've been worrying almost every day for at | | | | substance abuse, and other anxiety disorders so for |
| least six months and the accompanying physical | | | | your treatment to succeed, it's important for these |
| symptoms have also been present for a similar | | | | factors to be considered so that you receive help for |
| amount of time. | | | | ALL of the problems you're dealing with. |
| How to cope with General Anxiety Disorder | | | | |