5 Signs & Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Everyone experiences anxiety at some point. Life can get stressful, and occasionally worries might overwhelm you. But when these worries become consistent, even in the absence of truly stressful situations, it may be a sign that you have a diagnosable anxiety disorder.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a feeling of anxiety or dread that persists despite outside circumstances. It’s a very common mental illness that often has comorbidities such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. GAD has both emotional symptoms and physical ones. Here are five signs and symptoms to watch out for.
1. Excessive worry
Worrying about stressful things is normal. A big project coming up at work, an interview, or selling a home are all situations that can give anyone anxiety. But those with GAD will linger on and place worries on something for far longer than is normal. Let’s say your mother is going in for x-rays on her chest because she’s having persistent rib pain. While this is certainly cause for concern, with GAD, you obsess over her procedure even though you have no control over it. Your mind immediately goes to the worst-case scenario and dwells there. Even when there’s no way to know for sure, you feel a sense of dread that her results will reveal something terrible.
2. Trouble sleeping
Another hallmark of GAD is struggling to sleep. Anxiety raises your cortisol levels, a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycles. When you’re in a persistent state of fight-or-flight, your body cannot rest properly. Your high cortisol levels will cause you to have racing thoughts as you toss and turn. Perhaps you’re worrying about your mother’s health even when it’s time to shut down for the night. Insomnia is also a fuel for anxiety itself. As you become more anxious, you have trouble sleeping, and as you have trouble sleeping, your anxiety increases.
3. Poor concentration
Many people who have GAD will report that they have trouble concentrating. Studies show anxiety can impact your working memory, which is how you store short-term information. GAD can prevent you from focusing on tasks, remembering what you set out to do, and performing well at work or school.
4. Agitation and irritability
Agitation is another sign that your anxiety is affecting your sympathetic nervous system. Your body responds to a perceived physical threat, even when none exists. You may experience sweating, a racing heart, dry mouth, or shaky hands. This hyperarousal can make you feel irritable, and your interpersonal relationships can suffer. For example, you may be particularly short or terse with people who are well-intentioned.
5. Gastrointestinal issues
Mental issues often manifest in the body as well. Like insomnia, anxiety and GI issues feed into one another. Stomachaches, constipation, and diarrhea are all signs that your emotions are affecting you physically. It’s important to recognize when your body is physically responding to emotional situations to determine if it’s a symptom of GAD.
When to seek help
If you feel overwhelmed with persistent feelings of anxiety and exhibit some of these other symptoms as well, you should consult a medical professional. A psychiatrist can diagnose you with GAD and may prescribe anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants.
Whether or not you decide to take medication, counseling will help you reframe your thinking and behaviors, which can address your anxiety in the long term. A licensed therapist can work with you on a technique such as cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is a particularly beneficial therapeutic approach for those with GAD. CBT will help you change your patterns of thinking and regulate your emotions.
If you feel you may be suffering from persistent anxiety and want to find ways of reducing the stress in your life, please reach out to us to find a therapist.
