Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the excessive worrying or nervousness about life and the future. This anxiety takes up a large portion of the day and often takes the pleasure out of both daily activities and activities that would usually be experienced as pleasurable.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is often genetic and can be exacerbated by stressful life events or stressors. GAD is often accompanied by depression.
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Worries that will not go away, despite the persons understanding that they are not rational.
- Inability to relax and difficulty concentrating.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Fatigue (Worrying is a full time job!)
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, tension, muscle aches, irritability, sweating and trembling.
- Stomach discomfort, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Undergoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be a very successful way to manage GAD symptoms and keep them manageable throughout life. CBT, with a heavy emphasis on Mindfulness (Read more about Mindfulness here) can help you to identify your distorted thoughts, restructure them into more reasonable and rational thoughts and then tolerate whatever discomfort you are experiencing. Mindfulness is a tool for life and can allow you to focus on the events and activities you value.
