Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects 19.1% of Americans with persistent, excessive worry about daily situations, but evidence-based therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and professional counseling can effectively reduce symptoms and improve quality of life through targeted anxiety management strategies.

Do your worries feel like a constant companion, making it hard to fully engage in daily life? Generalized anxiety disorder goes beyond typical stress, affecting millions of Americans - but understanding its patterns and seeking therapeutic support can help you regain control and find lasting relief.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Criteria, Causes, And Therapeutic Support Options

Worry is a natural emotional reaction that surfaces when facing uncertainty about the future. However, for some individuals, this uncertainty persists and may intensify over time. Excessive worry and a vague, unsettled feeling, among other symptoms, may indicate an anxiety disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

GAD is one of the most common mental health conditions. This article explores what GAD is, how to identify its physical and psychological symptoms, the diagnostic criteria used to diagnose it, and what therapeutic approaches are recommended to manage excessive anxiety and worry while promoting mental wellness.

What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

GAD is a mental health condition characterized by worry, fear, and persistent overwhelm. A defining feature of generalized anxiety disorder is excessive worry about ordinary situations in day-to-day life rather than focusing on a specific topic or problem. While anxiety and worry are typical human emotions, people with GAD experience them to the point of distress or functional impairment in multiple areas of their lives, such as work, health, or finances. GAD may often include physical symptoms but does not involve the presence of panic attacks.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Generalized anxiety disorder usually involves persistent anxiety or dread, which can interfere with daily life. It is not the same as occasionally worrying about things or experiencing anxiety due to stressful life events.”

DSM-5 definition of generalized anxiety

When assessing someone for a GAD diagnosis, healthcare professionals look for the following criteria for identifying anxiety disorders found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association Publishing:

• You experience excessive worry or anxiety about multiple events or activities, such as school, work, or performance, which occurs most days and persists for at least six months
• You have difficulty controlling your worry
• You experience significant distress or impairment at work, socially, or in other vital areas due to anxiety, worry, and physical symptoms
• Your symptoms are not attributable to the effects of a substance or other medical condition

You experience three or more of the following symptoms:

1. Restlessness, feeling on edge or keyed up
2. Easily fatigued
3. Trouble concentrating or mind going blank
4. Irritability
5. Muscle tension
6. Difficulty falling or staying asleep, or other sleep changes
7. Another mental health condition does not better explain your symptoms

Other generalized anxiety disorder symptoms:

• Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, stomachaches, or unexplained chest pain
• Excessive and persistent worry
• Perceiving a threat that is not present
• Difficulty relaxing
• Trouble handling uncertainty
• Easily startled or jumpy

Understanding the physical symptoms of GAD

Anxiety is more than being nervous. Among other things, it is your body’s response to perceived threats, triggering the “fight or flight” response. GAD involves constant tension, which can lead to physical symptoms like nausea, sweating, trembling, headaches, racing heart, hyperventilating, lightheadedness, fatigue, muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues, restlessness, pent-up energy, and other physical symptoms.

How is GAD diagnosed using generalized anxiety disorder criteria?

GAD should be diagnosed by your primary care doctor or a mental health professional. The process may start with a physical exam to identify any potential causes due to medication or an underlying medical condition. You will be asked detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history. Many clinicians use a series of psychological questionnaires to help determine a diagnosis, along with the generalized anxiety disorder criteria presented above from the DSM-5.

How common are these disorders?

According to research published by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), the country’s most common mental health conditions are anxiety disorders. The research states that the lifetime prevalence of GAD in the U.S. reaches 19.1% of the population. The ADAA further says that anxiety disorders are “highly treatable,” though only 36.9% of people with the condition reach out to professionals in an attempt to treat anxiety.

Comorbidity of GAD

According to a recent study, generalized anxiety disorder is frequently comorbid — present in the same person at the same time — with various other mental health conditions. The disorder is commonly seen alongside mood disorders (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorder), other anxiety disorders (e.g., social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobia-related disorder), chronic pain conditions, eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa), personality disorders, and sleep disorders. Individuals with GAD are at a higher risk of developing substance use disorder.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Recognizing GAD in children

Generalized anxiety disorder does not always present the same in children as in adults. According to child development experts at Boston Children’s Hospital, kids with GAD tend to show excessive and uncontrollable worry compared to non-anxious peers. In addition to typical anxiety symptoms, children with generalized anxiety disorder often exhibit fear over future events, such as what will happen to them if their caregivers get sick or die. They may also fixate on events, consistently expect the worst, show extreme concern over their performance in school, socially, or in other circumstances, and show restless or excess energy.

What causes generalized anxiety disorder?

As with many mental health conditions, the causes of GAD are believed to be a complex interaction of several genetic and environmental factors. Variations in brain chemistry, developmental experiences, personality, and the body’s response to threats can all factor into whether a person develops a generalized anxiety disorder.

Treating GAD

Many mental health professionals develop a plan to treat generalized anxiety disorder based on how significantly the disorder affects your daily functioning and interferes with your life. In general, treatment approaches include psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication—though a comprehensive treatment plan may involve both. With appropriate treatment, many people managing GAD notice a reduction in symptoms and improved quality of life.

Therapeutic approaches

Talk therapy is a primary treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. Many clients have seen reduced symptoms and an improved ability to manage their anxiety while working with a licensed clinical social worker. Cognitive behavioral therapy (also known as cognitive behavior therapy or CBT) is one of the most frequently used treatments for GAD, as it focuses on identifying and replacing harmful or maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors. In addition to the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy, clients have also found success with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which can help reduce anxiety-related discomfort through mindfulness and goal setting.

Support groups

For many people, the support of a group therapy situation can be enormously helpful. In the group setting, you gain other people who are likely experiencing similar issues and will understand much of what you’re going through without explanation. It can be difficult to explain mental health symptoms to people who do not know how the condition can affect a person’s thoughts and behaviors.

Lifestyle changes that can help

• Practice a mindful lifestyle focused on positive thinking. Work to shift your perspective about situations that cause anxiety
• Develop positive affirmations to help reassure yourself when you’re feeling anxious
• Practice deep breathing to recenter yourself and help with calm and focus
• Keep a journal. Writing about your emotions helps you process them and gives you a written record to track your progress, triggers, and effective coping methods
• Exercise and consume nutritious foods
• Try taking on a calming hobby
• Enjoy a walk in nature to ground yourself

Reach out for professional mental health support and guidance

Living with generalized anxiety disorder can be challenging, but you are not alone. Reach out for professional support and guidance from a licensed clinical social worker and gain an additional resource as you build a repertoire of practical coping skills to manage your anxiety symptoms and stress reactions.

How therapy can help you manage GAD symptoms

A licensed clinical social worker can help you manage the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Many people have successfully received treatment for GAD and other mental health conditions through telehealth providers such as ReachLink. Flexible appointment formats make it easier to fit treatment into your busy schedule, and telehealth therapy offers the convenience of receiving care from the comfort of your own home.

According to a recent study, online therapy is a practical, affordable treatment option for anxiety disorders that can be as effective as in-person sessions. In the study, professionals in the industry reported that the efficacy of therapy increases with the number of sessions attended. The patients often said the convenience of receiving therapy from home meant they could attend more reliably. Many also said the added physical distance made opening emotionally to their therapists easier.

Takeaway

Generalized anxiety disorder can significantly impact your life and mental stability. While symptoms can be challenging to manage alone, working with a licensed clinical social worker can substantially reduce symptoms and their effect. The information presented in this article offers insight into GAD and how therapy through ReachLink can help reduce the interference of symptoms in your life.