GAD

GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) is a condition characterized by chronic anxiety in which a person's day is filled with exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. Generally developing anywhere from early childhood to middle age, possible symptoms include fatigue, irritability, headaches, and trembling. Possible treatment options include medications and cognitive behavioral therapy.

 

What Is GAD?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is much more than the normal anxiety people experience day to day. It's chronic and fills one's day with exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. Having GAD means always anticipating disaster and often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Sometimes, though, the source of the worry is hard to pinpoint. Simply the thought of getting through the day provokes anxiety.
 

What Are the Symptoms?

People with GAD can't seem to shake their concerns, even though they usually realize that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants.
 Their worries are accompanied by physical symptoms, especially:
 
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Muscle tension
  • Muscle aches
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Trembling
  • Twitching
  • Irritability
  • Sweating
  • Hot flashes.
     
People with the condition may feel lightheaded or out of breath. They also may feel nauseated or have to go to the bathroom frequently.
 
Individuals with GAD are often unable to relax, and they may startle more easily than other people. They tend to have difficulty concentrating, too. Often, they have trouble falling or staying asleep.
 
Unlike people with several other anxiety disorders, people with GAD don't characteristically avoid certain situations as a result of their disorder. When impairment associated with GAD is mild, people with the disorder may be able to function in social settings or on the job. If severe, however, GAD can be debilitating, making it difficult to carry out even the most ordinary daily activities.
 

Causes of GAD

Some research suggests that GAD may run in families, and it may also grow worse during times of stress. The disorder usually begins at an early age, and symptoms may manifest themselves more slowly than in most other anxiety disorders.
 

Treatment Options

Treatments for GAD include medications and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
 

GAD and Other Medical Conditions

Research shows that GAD often coexists with depression, substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders. Other conditions associated with stress, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), often accompany GAD. People with physical symptoms, such as insomnia or headaches, should also tell their doctors about their feelings of worry and tension. This will help the healthcare provider recognize that the person may be suffering from GAD.
 

Key Facts

GAD affects about 4 million adult Americans and about twice as many women as men.
 
The condition comes on gradually and can begin at any age, although the risk is highest between childhood and middle age.
 
It is diagnosed when someone spends at least six months worrying excessively about a number of everyday problems. There is evidence that genes play a modest role in whether a person develops GAD.
 
GAD is commonly treated with medications. However, it rarely occurs alone -- it is usually accompanied by another anxiety disorder, depression, or substance abuse. So these other conditions must be treated along with GAD.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD