Is It Just Stress or GAD? Complete Guide to Anxiety Symptoms

Do you worry constantly and remain tense most of the time? It can be a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder.

Most of us get worried about the normal parts of things; it’s like worrying about the finances, or before a meeting. But generalized anxiety disorder is more than just occasional worry or everyday stress. It’s a psychiatric condition that causes persistent worries and unease. These feelings cannot be managed on their own and can affect people of all ages, including children, adolescents, and the elderly.

As per the research by the National Institute of Medicine, approximately 2.7% of U.S. adults had generalized anxiety disorder in the past year. Understanding this condition is crucial as it helps in early diagnosis and treatment.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a complex but treatable psychiatric condition. People in this state remain excessively worried, anxious, and uncontrollable, and experience excessive fear that overwhelms their minds. It interferes with everyday life activities and may cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of life. People experiencing this condition may remain overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues, and be unable to control it. They worry excessively and think the worst of the situation even when there is no perceived danger, as they believe that if they worry about things, it might prevent them from all the bad outcomes.

Moreover, most of the people don’t even know that they are struggling with generalized anxiety disorder because at the start, the symptoms are mild and don’t affect their functionality. But over time, it become worse and lead to physical symptoms like restlessness, headaches, and stomachaches. However, the worst part is that it is persistent, which means it can occur almost the entire day. But it’s a treatable condition and can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).

What are the Symptoms of GAD?

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by a range of symptoms that can cause significant distress in every aspect of life. Anxiety disorders are the leading prevalent mental disorders in the world, which are estimated to be responsible for about 28.68 million. Every individual has a different experience. However, most people experience emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms that often fluctuate and may become severe over time.

Below are some of the GAD symptoms commonly experienced by patients:

Emotional Symptoms

• Excessive worries race through the head
• It makes one feel like their anxiety is unable to be controlled, and there is no way to stop the worrying
• People in this state remain in intrusive thoughts about things that make them anxious
• Individuals are unable to tolerate delay; they remain in an urge to know what’s going to happen in the future
• A pervasive feeling of fear throughout the day

Behavioral Symptoms

• Unable to relax and feel lighter, and find themselves at ease even when resting
• Face difficulties in concentrating, make careless mistakes
• Putting things off because you feel overwhelmed
• Observe hurdles or challenges as threatened, even though they are really not
• Avoiding situations that make one feel anxious
• Complicated things due to overthinking and overreacting
• It makes one experience panic attacks

Physical Symptoms

• Feeling tense; having muscle tightness or body pains
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep because your mind won’t quit
• Feeling nervous, uneasy, or jumpy

How do the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Show up in Children and Teenagers?

Every individual has differences in signs, as they vary with age and gender. Here is how it manifests in women, children, and adults.

GAD Symptoms in Children

Children experience excessive worry about future events, such as academics, family matters, and personal abilities. They are unable to control their thoughts and don’t realize the reason for their anxiety. Here are some of the red flags for GAD in children:

• Children remain stuck in the loop of “What if”, which causes excessive fears about upcoming events
• Perfectionism, extreme self-criticism, and dread of making mistakes.
• They remain in constant worry about the occurring tragedy, and feel like they will be blamed for it.
• They remain in a strong belief that trouble is contagious and will happen to them.
• They need frequent reassurance and approval.

Symptoms of GAD in Teens​

It often starts developing in childhood. The core signs remain the same, like worry, headache, fatigue, and more. However, the additional signs of childhood generalized anxiety disorder can include:

• Trouble with academic performance
• Fear of punctuality
• Worried about family safety
• Lack confidence

How do GAD Signs and Depression Coexist?

Most people think that depression and generalized anxiety disorder can be correlated. The answer is yes! If it remains untreated, it can result in significant life and health problems and lead to depression. It is because extreme anxiety often causes the co-occurrence of generalized anxiety disorder with depression.

According to the research by The National Library of Medicine, the majority of people diagnosed with GAD have co-occurring other mental disorders, at least one in their life. However, development of multiple physiological conditions at one time leads to long-term consequences in every aspect of life, including social, relationship, professional, and more.

Moreover, it also leads to physical health issues, like chronic unexplained pain. Low energy, fatigue, restlessness, and mood swings also remain constant. Such risky conditions can often lead to self-harm and many other risky behaviors.

Difference Between GAD Symptoms and OCD

Individuals experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can often be misdiagnosed as having GAD. Although both are distinct conditions but still misdiagnosed. It is because OCD and generalized anxiety disorder are somewhat unclear, and most of the mental health care providers may mistake them for generalized anxiety disorder. Here are some of the common differences that may help to diagnose the condition in a better way.

What are the Causes of GAD Symptoms?

The exact cause of generalized anxiety disorder is still unknown, but as per research, some factors may increase the vulnerability of an individual to develop these signs. The contributing factors may include:

Biological Factors

Genetics plays an important role in the development of this condition. As it tends to run in families, if anyone in the close family struggles with this condition, they are more prone to develop it. So, imbalances in brain chemistry lead to imbalances in the neurotransmitters, which are also considered possible contributors.

Learned Behaviour

People experience this condition through habitual ways of thinking that are learned over many years. These are impacted by a range of environmental, social, and family consequences. It’s a tendency to be preoccupied with imaginary worries that can train the mind, over time, to worry habitually.

Brian’s Function

Generalized anxiety disorder has a strong connection with neurotransmitters, as it damages the brain chemicals and affects the brain. It severely affects the brain functioning, which is responsible for regulating thoughts, information processing, emotions, and makes the brain struggle to manage stress and anxiety. However, it is not clear whether anxiety leads to physical changes or whether physical changes cause the anxiety.

Environmental Factors

People who have been through certain stressful, threatening events are also vulnerable to developing GAD. It can be traumas, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, etc. These are the major factors that collectively can be considered as root causes of generalized anxiety disorder. Also, some other factors may also lead to the development of this disorder, such as personality traits, medical conditions, and substance abuse.

Who is more at Risk of developing the Signs of GAD?

It can occur at any stage of life, but there are certain people who are more at risk, these include:

You may be more at risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder if you:

• Women are twice as likely to develop generalized anxiety disorder as compared to men.
• If you are biologically related to someone diagnosed with GAD
• People who have been through a traumatic event or significant stress in their lives
• If you have experienced child abuse
• Individuals who are living with other mental health conditions, like panic attacks or depression
• Frequently use substances like tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana

Are GAD Symptoms Treatable?

Yes, it causes excessive worry about everyday things, and is treatable. Also, people can live a normal life while experiencing the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

However, it cannot be treated permanently, but the signs can be reduced with the treatments. The treatments are focused on developing coping skills. They help individuals manage emotions and stay calm.

How to Diagnose Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

It can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional; they perform certain steps to assess your psychological conditions. Also, most of the people struggle to open up about their struggles. So, it’s better to communicate with your mental health professional, be clear with your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, so that the mental health professional can recommend the best treatment options.

Here’s how a mental health professional diagnoses general anxiety disorder:

• Clinical Interviews
• Physical Examination
• Previous medical and family history

Generalized Anxiety Disorder criteria

Mental health providers use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5-TR)
. One must have the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder for at least six months, and must feel worried most days. The worries should be hard to manage, and one must experience three of the following signs. However, in children

• Feeling restless or on edge
• Getting tired easily
• Difficulty concentrating or feeling like the mind goes blank
• Staying irritated
• Muscle pain
• Trouble falling or staying asleep

These symptoms interfere with your daily life. They may affect your work, relationships, and overall health. The mental health provider also checks if the signs arise because of substance abuse or any medication. They also diagnose the root cause and then recommend treatments.

Treatment Approaches for Generalized Anxiety Disorder at the Advanced Health Preference Group

Generalized anxiety disorder can be treated in different ways. It means that several treatment approaches are used by mental health professionals, tailored to the individual’s condition. The mental health professionals select an appropriate choice, as it can cause severe side effects. If you are looking for GAD treatments, the Advanced Health Preference Group is here to help.
They can treat generalized anxiety disorder, utilizing different treatments, including psychotherapy and medications.

Phychothepray

Psychotherapy is a treatment approach that can help manage GAD and other mental health disorders. In psychotherapy, a patient and a psychiatrist sit together and communicate with each other regarding the patient’s condition. It is a collaborative, judgment-free environment focused on improving individuals’ mental wellness through support, treatment, and strategies. Some of the common therapies that can help with this condition are as follows.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the most effective and widely recognized therapy for general anxiety disorder. It helps in managing the negative thought pattern and changes them into helpful ones. It is a meticulously performed therapy treatment, consisting of several sessions. CBT can be delivered in groups and individual settings. People who get cognitive behavioral therapy experience a massive reduction in persistent worry and chronic stress.

So basically, CBT is a structured treatment process for mental disorders, including GAD. Also, it is an evidence-based treatment, meaning it’s effective, goal-oriented, and psychiatrist-proven. Over time, it reduces GAD symptoms and makes people feel calmed and balanced.

Medications

Medications are often prescribed with the combination of therapies to treat the condition more effectively. The medications are often used for short-term relief. The mental health professionals add medication to the treatment plan, as per the severity of the condition. However, medications are not usually prescribed to everyone; only those with hard-to-manage symptoms take them under a specialist’s supervision.

Note: It is essential to obtain medication only from a certified psychiatrist. Also, ask your mental healthcare professional about dosage, duration, and side effects.

Get Professional Support at Advanced Health Preference Group

If you feel like you or any of your loved ones are experiencing the symptoms of GAD. Don’t worry, your help is within reach.

At Advance Health Preference Group, we have a team of mental health professionals who provide compassionate treatments with a multidisciplinary approach. Our team handles everything from your first visit to creating treatment plans to achieving final, imagined results, everything with care. You can also get treatments from the comfort of your home through our telepsychiatry services. We cover a wide range of insurances and also offer self-pay options, so you don’t have to worry about the bills.

Contact us today to book your appointment.