The DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) defines Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, with at least six months of "excessive anxiety and worry" in a patient who is unable to control this anxiety and worry, and who also has had the presence of three or more of the primary symptoms for most days in the previous six months.
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Feeling wound-up, tense, or restless
- Becoming easily fatigued or worn out
- Problems concentrating
- Irritability
- Significant muscle tension
- Difficulty sleeping
In addition, these symptoms cannot be attributed to another disease, illness, substance, or other medical issue, and they must cause significant distress in the person's daily functioning.
Many people who do not have GAD may have a hard time understanding this mental illness, as common sense dictates that everyone gets stressed sometimes. The important difference in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder is that external stressors do not have to be present to produce anxiety symptoms, and when external stress is present, coping skills are not present that would help most non-anxiety patients to deal with the anxiety-provoking event.
A person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder tends to worry about trivial things as much as significant things. This worry can become an obsession. Sometimes, the person can be aware that his or her fear is irrational, but is still powerless to control the anxiety. Being unable to reach a friend or loved one on the phone might invoke a series of frantic phone calls to nearby police stations and hospital emergency rooms. Following stressful events, a person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder might be unable to sleep for days at a time, or become so tense that he or she cannot walk or move without a lot of pain.
Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Several types of anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder. One class of these drugs is the benzodiazepines. This class includes commonly known pills like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. These prescription medications are sedatives that can provide relief from acute anxiety symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes, but can be highly habit-forming. One anti-anxiety drug that does not run a risk of dependence is BuSpar, which may cause lightheadedness.
Antidepressants are also commonly used to treat GAD and other anxiety disorders. Many antidepressants, such as Celexa, Cymbalta, and Prozac, can take a period of weeks to become effective. Other antidepressants, like Remeron, can provide nearly immediate relief of anxiety symptoms, but come with undesirable side effects like significant weight gain.
When taking prescription drugs to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the patient and his or her doctor must determine whether the benefits of the medication outweigh the negative side effects they may cause.
Psychotherapy is another form of treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and may take place alone or in addition to prescription drugs. Counseling or talk therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can be beneficial in helping GAD patients understand common anxiety triggers and come up with some positive strategies for coping with their anxiety. CBT tends to be short-term in nature, although some patients may require a more long-term approach to therapy.
Some positive coping skills that people with GAD can try to utilize include meditation, yoga, hot baths, walking or jogging, and physical exercise. Many people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder can benefit from peer support groups. While these support groups can meet in hospitals or other public places, newer online support groups like the mood community at PatientsLikeMe can be very helpful for patients whose anxiety precludes them from too much social activity.
This article is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult with your physician. For more information about Generalized Anxiety Disorder, visit About.com or read Misdiagnosing Narcissism.
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