Mental Health: Facts & Statistics

GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by the experience of much more anxiety than is normal for most people from day to day.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by the experience of much more anxiety than is normal for most people from day to day. &ndash National Institute of Mental Health, 1994


• Chronic, exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. &ndash National Institute of Mental Health, 1994


• Having GAD means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Sometimes, though, the source of the worry is hard to pinpoint. &ndash National Institute of Mental Health, 1994


• People with GAD can't seem to shake their concerns, even though they usually realize that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants. &ndash National Institute of Mental Health, 1994


• Worries are accompanied by physical symptoms, especially fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, and hot flashes. People with GAD may feel lightheaded or out of breath. They also may feel nauseated or have to go to the bathroom frequently. &ndash National Institute of Mental Health, 1994

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