[ PATIENT HANDOUT ]
Understanding Anxiety:
When is it a Disorder?
E
veryone experiences anxiety – in the
form of nervousness, stress and occa-
sionally even panic – but for some it
is a much more severe, constant and
present part of their lives. It is accompanied by
physical and emotional symptoms and can hin-
der the quality of their day-to-day life, or worse.
When anxiety affects a person to this degree, it
is commonly called generalized anxiety disorder
(GAD). Because it can consume and affect the
lives of not only the individuals who suffer from
it, but those indirectly connected to it as well,
it is vital that people become educated about
GAD. Below is a brief overview of the disorder.
DEFINITION AND CAUSES
GAD affects approximately 6.8 million indi-
viduals in the United States, not including
NOTES:
DISCLAIMER: Your doctor or therapist has given you this patient handout to further explain or remind you about an issue related
to your health. This handout is a general guide only. If you have specific questions, discuss them with your doctor or therapist.
children. It is a disorder in which one is filled
with extreme worry and tension, despite there
being no external cause for the severity of these
emotions. The anxiety may be directed toward
health, money, family disputes, work, or simply
day-to-day functioning. A diagnosis can be
given when an individual suffers from this type
of anxiety for six months or more.
The exact cause of GAD is unknown. How-
ever, it is believed that biological, psychological
and environmental factors, as well as stressful
or traumatic life events, contribute to its devel-
opment.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of GAD will manifest differently
in each person. Typically, however, a person
experiences both mental/emotional and physi-
cal symptoms, including:
Mental/Emotional:
• Lack of concentration
• Inability to control worry
• Anxiety/worry that is not proportionate to
the present situation
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Inability to fall or stay asleep
• Easily startled
• Depression
• Substance abuse
Physical:
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle tension and aches
• Trembling
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sweating
• Lightheadedness
• Hot flashes
• Breathlessness
• Palpitations
• Stomach unrest/nausea
Though not all of these symptoms will be
present when an individual has GAD, many
will. It is also important to remember that the
presence of a few of these symptoms does not
automatically imply a diagnosis of GAD.
TREATMENT
Once diagnosed, generalized anxiety disor-
der can be treated in several ways. Typically an
individual will see a mental health professional.
Behavioral therapy, often cognitive behavioral
therapy or CBT, is employed; medications are
also commonly prescribed. Support or self-help
groups, whether online or in person, as well as
stress-management techniques and family sup-
port, are also useful tools in managing GAD.
A diagnosis of GAD does not mean that an
individual can no longer function and will be
permanently disabled by worry. It simply means
that different techniques, therapy and, if nec-
essary, medications may be needed to help
maintain one’s quality of life. ■
Information for this patient hand out was gath-
ered from:
• National Institute of Mental Health, “General Anxiety
Disorder” - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics
/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml
• Google Health, “Generalized Anxiety Disor-
der”- https://health.google.com/health/ref/
Generalized+anxiety+disorder