Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Abnormal Psychology Discuss Post 02/21/12)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – involves the worry or anxiety that problems or events may occur when there is little foundation in reality that these events will occur, or these problems will arise.

The disorder develops over time but generally begin in teenage years, or in early adulthood. “Symptoms may get better or worse at different times, and often are worse during times of stress” (NIMH, 2011).

Symptoms of GAD include:

- constant worry about daily, common place events

- cannot control their worrying

- understood that there is little basis for their worry

- unable to relax

- unable to concentrate

- startle easily

- have sleep problems

- fatigued

- irritable

- have various physical pains

People with GAD have trouble functioning in their daily lives as they are preoccupied with their constant worrying. They may have problems in work or school as they are unable to concentrate. People with GAD might have problems in their social life as well, by being irritable, fatigued, or too easily startled by others.   

References

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad-when-worry-gets-out-of-control.shtml