Description

It is normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if life is stressful. However, excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and may interfere with the day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.

It is possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or an adult. Generalized anxiety disorder has symptoms that are similar to panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but they're all different conditions.

Living with generalized anxiety disorder can be a long-term challenge. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders. In most cases, the generalized anxiety disorder improved with psychotherapy or medications. Making lifestyle changes, learning coping skills and using relaxation techniques also can help.

Generalized anxiety disorder care at Mayo Clinic

Symptoms

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can vary. They may include:

  • The persistent concern or anxiety about a number of areas that are out of proportion with the impact of the events
  • Overthinking plans and solutions to all possible worst-case results
  • Perceive situations and events as a threat, even when they are not
  • The difficulty is to handle the uncertainty
  • The indecision and the fear of making the wrong decision
  • Inability to set aside or let go of a worry
  • Inability to relax, feeling restless, and the feeling of nervousness or on the edge
  • Difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind "goes blank"

Physical signs and symptoms may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Sleep problems
  • Muscle tension or muscle aches
  • Trembling, feeling twitchy
  • The nervousness, or being easily startled.
  • Sweating
  • Nausea, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome
  • Irritability

There are times that your concerns are not completely consume you, but you still feel anxious even when there is no apparent reason. For example, you may feel intense worry about your safety or the safety of your loved ones, or you may have a general feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Your anxiety, worry or physical symptoms cause significant distress in social, occupational or other areas of your life. The anxiety can change from one concern to another and may change with time and age.

The symptoms in children and adolescents

Children and adolescents have concerns similar to the adults, but it can also have excessive concerns about:

  • Performance in school or at sporting events
  • The family members of the security
  • Be on time (punctuality)
  • Earthquakes, nuclear war or other catastrophic events

A child or adolescent with excessive worry, you can:

  • They feel very anxious to fit in
  • Being a perfectionist
  • Redo tasks because it is not perfect the first time
  • Spend excessive time doing homework
  • Lack of trust
  • Strive for your approval
  • They require a lot of guarantees in regards to performance
  • You have frequent stomach aches or other physical ailments
  • Avoid going to school or avoid social situations

When to see a doctor

Some degree of anxiety is normal, but talk to your doctor if:

  • You feel like you're worrying too much, and is interfering with your job, relationships or other parts of your life
  • You are feeling depressed or irritable, have trouble with alcohol or drugs, or if you have other mental health problems along with anxiety
  • You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — seek emergency treatment immediately

Their concerns are unlikely to just go away on its own account, and in fact may worsen with time. Try to seek professional help before your anxiety becomes severe, it may be easier for the early treatment.

Causes

As with many mental health conditions, the cause of generalized anxiety disorder likely arises from a complex interplay of biological and environmental factors, which may include:

  • The differences in brain chemistry and function
  • Genetics
  • The differences in the way that threats are perceived
  • Development and personality

Risk factors

Women are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder somewhat more often than men. The following factors may increase the risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder:

  • Of the personality. A person whose temperament is shy or negative, or to avoid anything dangerous you can be more prone to generalized anxiety disorder than others.
  • Genetics. Generalized anxiety disorder can run in families.
  • Experiences. People with generalized anxiety disorder may have a history of major life changes, or traumatic or negative experiences in childhood, or a recent traumatic or negative event. Chronic diseases or other mental health disorders can increase the risk.

Complications

Have generalized anxiety disorder can be disabling. You can:

  • Impair your ability to perform tasks quickly and efficiently because you have trouble concentrating
  • Take your time and the attention of other activities
  • Sap your energy
  • Increase the risk of depression

Generalized anxiety disorder can also lead to or worsen other physical health conditions, such as:

  • Digestive or intestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome or ulcers
  • Headaches and migraines
  • The chronic pain and illness
  • Sleep problems and insomnia
  • Heart-health problems

Generalized anxiety disorder often occurs along with other mental health problems, which can make diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Some mental health disorders that commonly occur with generalized anxiety disorder are:

  • Phobias
  • Panic disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Depression
  • Thoughts of suicide or suicide.
  • Substance abuse

Prevention

There is No way to predict what is going to cause someone to develop generalized anxiety disorder, but you can take steps to reduce the impact of the symptoms, if you experience anxiety:

  • Get help in time. Anxiety, like many other mental health conditions, it can be difficult to treat if you wait.
  • Keep a journal. Keep track of your personal life can help you and your mental health professional to identify what's causing you stress and what seems to help you feel better.
  • Prioritize the problems in your life. You can reduce anxiety by carefully managing your time and energy.
  • Avoid unhealthy use of substances. Use of drugs and Alcohol and even nicotine or caffeine use can cause or worsen anxiety. If you're addicted to any of these substances, quitting smoking can make you anxious. If you are unable to quit smoking on your own, consult your doctor or find a treatment program or a support group to help you.

Diagnosis

To help diagnose generalized anxiety disorder, your doctor or mental health professional may:

  • Do a physical exam to look for signs that your anxiety might be linked to medications or an underlying medical condition
  • Order blood or urine tests or other tests, if a doctor suspects
  • Detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history
  • The use of psychological questionnaires to help determine a diagnosis
  • The use of the criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American psychiatric Association

Treatment

Treatment decisions are based on how significantly generalized anxiety disorder affects your ability to function in your daily life. The two main types of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder are psychotherapy and medications. You may benefit most from a combination of the two. You can take a little trial and error to discover which treatments work best for you.

Psychotherapy

Also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective form of psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

Usually a short-term treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on teaching specific skills to manage directly their concerns and help them to gradually return to the activities that have been avoided due to the anxiety. Through this process, that their symptoms improve as you build on your initial success.

Drugs

Several types of medications used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, including those below. Talk with your doctor about the benefits, risks and possible side effects.

  • Antidepressants. Antidepressants, including drugs in the selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS) and serotonin and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) class, are the first-line drug treatments. Examples of antidepressants used to treat generalized anxiety disorder include escitalopram (Lexapro), duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva). Your doctor may also recommend other antidepressants.
  • Buspirone. An anti-anxiety medication called buspirone may be used on a continuous basis. As with most antidepressants, it usually takes several weeks to be fully effective.
  • Benzodiazepines. In limited circumstances, your doctor may prescribe a benzodiazepine for the relief of symptoms of anxiety. These sedatives are generally used only for the relief of acute anxiety on a short-term basis. Because it can be habit-forming, these drugs are not a good option if you have or have had problems with alcohol or drug abuse.

Lifestyle and home remedies

While most people with anxiety disorders need psychotherapy or medications to get anxiety under control, lifestyle changes also can make a difference. Here is what you can do:

  • Stay physically active. Develop a routine so that you're physically active most days of the week. Exercise is a powerful stress reducer. You can improve your mood and help you stay healthy. Start slowly and gradually increase the amount and intensity of your activities.
  • Make sleep a priority. Do what you can to make sure that you are getting enough sleep to feel rested. If you are not sleeping well, see your doctor.
  • The use of relaxation techniques. The techniques of visualization, meditation, and yoga are examples of relaxation techniques that can relieve anxiety.
  • Eat healthy. Healthy eating — for example, focusing on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish may be linked to reductions in anxiety, but more research is needed.
  • Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. These substances can worsen the anxiety.
  • Stop smoking and reduce or stop drinking coffee. Both nicotine and caffeine can worsen anxiety.

Alternative medicine

Several herbal remedies have been studied as treatments for anxiety. The results tend to be mixed, and in several studies that people do not report the benefits of its use. More research is needed to fully understand the risks and benefits.

Some herbal supplements, such as kava and valerian, increase the risk of severe liver damage. Other supplements, such as passionflower or theanine, may have a calming effect, but are often combined with other products, so it is difficult to say if it helps with the symptoms of anxiety.

Before taking any herbal remedies or supplements, discuss it with your doctor to make sure that it is safe and does not interact with the medicines you take.

Coping and support

To cope with generalized anxiety disorder, here's what you can do:

  • Stick to your treatment plan. Take medications as directed. Keep therapy appointments. The practice of the skills learned in psychotherapy. The consistency can make a big difference, especially when it comes to taking the medication.
  • Take action. Work with your mental health professional to find out what it is that the anxiety and the direction of the same.
  • Let it go. Do not dwell in the past concerns. Change what you can in the present moment and let the rest take its course.
  • Break the cycle. When you feel anxious, take a brisk walk or delve into a hobby to refocus your mind away from your concerns.
  • Socialize. Don't let the concerns isolate you from your loved ones, or enjoyable activities. Social interaction and relationships of empathy can alleviate their concerns.
  • Join a support group for people with anxiety. Here, you can find the compassion, the understanding and shared experiences. You can find support groups in your community or on the internet, for example, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Preparing for your appointment

You can see your primary care doctor, or your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms I have been experiencing, including any that occur, they seem to do better or worse, and how much they affect your day-to-day activities, such as work, school or relationships
  • Key personal information, including major life changes or stressful events that you've dealt with recently and any traumatic experiences that we have had in the past
  • Medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions with which you have been diagnosed
  • All the drugs, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you are taking, including the dosage
  • Questions to ask your doctor or mental health professional

Some questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible health problems or physical problems that could be causing or worsening my anxiety?
  • Do I need any tests?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • You should see a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional?
  • Would medication help? If so, is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor or mental health professional will likely ask you a series of questions. Be prepared to answer to reserve a time to go over any points you want to focus on. The questions may include:

  • What are your symptoms?
  • What things do you tend to worry?
  • Do your symptoms interfere with your daily activities?
  • Avoid anything because of your anxiety?
  • Have their feelings of anxiety been occasional or continuous?
  • When did you begin to notice your anxiety?
  • Is there anything in particular seem to trigger your anxiety or make it worse?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your feelings of anxiety?
  • What, if any, physical or mental health conditions do you have?
  • What traumatic experiences that you have had recently or in the past?
  • Usually, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs?
  • Do you have any blood relatives with anxiety or other mental health disorders, such as depression?
Symptoms and treatment of Generalized anxiety disorder