Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Written by Tamara

Tamara is a full-time editor, with an educational background in the medical sciences. She has been a freelance writer in the health and wellness niche for four years.

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February 22, 2023

Contents

Introduction

Living with anxiety can be crippling at times. Daily tasks become difficult to complete, and sometimes even stepping out of the house can be a challenge. That knot in your stomach and the expectation that the worst will happen is not easy to ignore.

However, understanding why you’re feeling that way and learning that it’s not just “the way you are” but a type of anxiety can help pave the way to feeling better. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for generalized anxiety disorder.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Anxiety manifests in many ways and over many different triggers.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the term used for anxiety caused by no apparent triggers, as opposed to other types of anxiety, such as social or health anxiety. As the name suggests, it’s just a general, overwhelming feeling of worry that is often disproportionate to the situation and has no explicable reason.

It’s also difficult to stop or control these worries about the future, despite knowing they are logically unlikely to happen. GAD can significantly affect your quality of life, as the fear can often prevent you from doing day-to-day things such as going to work or social outings. If this sounds familiar, know that there are treatment options, and you don’t need to feel this way forever.

Symptoms of GAD

To be diagnosed with GAD, you must experience this general worry for most days of the week, and this should be going on for at least six consecutive months. If you struggle with GAD, you may experience at least three of the following symptoms:

Trouble sleeping
Irritability
Constant worrying
Nervousness
Hot flashes and sweating
Tense muscles and aches
Trembling
Headaches
Nausea
Trouble concentrating
Get startled easily
Fatigue
Frequent urination
Shortness of breath
Light-headedness.

GAD is a mental condition, but it can manifest as physical symptoms – especially if severe. People with GAD worry about various things, such as money, relationships, work, their own health, the health of their loved ones, to-do lists, and social events. These sound like areas that everyone worries about at some point in their lives! However, a stressful situation or traumatic event often causes us to worry – we don’t just expect the worst out of nowhere. When that stressful period is over, usually, so are those worries.

Causes of GAD

While there is no known cause of GAD, several potential factors come into play. Studies suggest that the development of GAD is due to genetic and environmental factors.

Women are significantly more at risk of developing GAD than men. Approximately two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with GAD are women. The average age of onset is 35; however, you can still develop GAD in childhood or adolescence. A family history of anxiety disorders, including GAD, also increases the risk of developing the condition, suggesting a genetic factor.

Experiencing trauma or being exposed to constant stressful situations in childhood or adolescence can also lead to the development of GAD, especially an earlier onset of the condition. These situations can range from bullying and disruptions in family life (such as divorce) to domestic abuse and losing someone unexpectedly.

Treatment Options for GAD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-researched and effective ways to treat many mental disorders, and it is usually the first recommended treatment option for GAD.

There are two parts to CBT – the cognitive aspect (your thoughts) and the behavioral aspect (your actions). Both need to be addressed to help treat GAD. For example, a key component of excessive worrying in GAD is a negative bias towards situations. A situation that might be interpreted as positive or neutral to most would be interpreted as catastrophic or threatening for someone with GAD. You may also find it useful or necessary to worry, as it could prepare you for the worst and avoid being in harmful situations.

CBT can help change how you think and act toward situations and stimuli. By thinking more positively or neutrally about situations and not enabling yourself to continue the cycle of worrying, that anxiety can decrease. However, this takes time and practice, so don’t give up on yourself too easily!

Medication

Medication is usually prescribed alongside psychological treatment, such as CBT, or on its own if patients choose not to partake in psychological treatment or if it didn’t work for them. Different medications may be prescribed for GAD, but the most common are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Both SSRIs and SNRIs increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that regulates mood. SNRIs also increase norepinephrine, which plays a role in the “fight or flight” stress response.

Self-help

Introducing changes to your lifestyle and picking up a few healthy habits may not cure your GAD. However, small but consistent lifestyle changes, such as getting enough sleep and eating whole foods, can significantly improve anxiety and stress levels.

Lack of sleep can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression, such as irritability, fatigue, and inability to concentrate. A good night’s sleep (ideally eight uninterrupted hours) can significantly benefit your mood and reaction to stress. Similarly, a healthy lifestyle that includes whole foods and regular movement can increase endorphins, help stabilize mood and energy levels, and improve overall well-being.

Relaxation techniques can be implemented into your treatment plan whether you are seeking professional help or not. Practice mindfulness, journaling, aromatherapy, breathing techniques, or meditation to quiet your mind and ease stress during times of high anxiety and fear. Some of these methods may work for you, and others may not, but they are worth a try to see what fits into your routine and lifestyle.

Whether you try these changes alone or alongside therapy and/or medication, it will improve your quality of life and reduce anxiety.

Generalized anxiety disorder doesn’t have to take over your life and prevent you from reaching your fullest potential. Simply put, your brain has learned to respond and react to the world with extra caution and worries. It’s a common condition, but it’s important to understand that it’s not who you are. There are effective treatment options, whether it’s medicinal, psychological, self-help, or a bit of everything.

If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to someone, such as a loved one or a professional.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Alexander Dummer (Pexels)