Generalized Anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)Disorder (GAD)

By: Corina Acosta, Xiomara By: Corina Acosta, Xiomara Zelaya, and HenryZelaya, and Henry

What is GAD?What is GAD?

Generalized Anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves Disorder involves anxiety and worry that anxiety and worry that is excessive and is excessive and unrelenting. This unrelenting. This high-level anxiety high-level anxiety makes normal life makes normal life difficult and relaxation difficult and relaxation impossible.impossible.

Rates of GADRates of GAD

According to DSM-IV, According to DSM-IV, approximately 3% of people will approximately 3% of people will develop the disorder during a develop the disorder during a given year, and 5% of people will given year, and 5% of people will have GAD at some point of their have GAD at some point of their lives.lives.GAD is said to affect a larger GAD is said to affect a larger number of women than men; the number of women than men; the ratio being 2:1.ratio being 2:1.German study found that 6.6% of German study found that 6.6% of women and 3.6% of men will women and 3.6% of men will develop GAD along their lifespan.develop GAD along their lifespan.

Research also found that GAD Research also found that GAD may affect people at different may affect people at different rates based on their age. rates based on their age. Although research on GAD and Although research on GAD and the elderly is not complete, 17% of the elderly is not complete, 17% of elderly men and 21.5% of elderly elderly men and 21.5% of elderly women experience severe anxiety.women experience severe anxiety.The lowest prevalence rates are The lowest prevalence rates are for people between the ages of for people between the ages of 15-24. 15-24. Overall, GAD can affect people of Overall, GAD can affect people of all ages and although people all ages and although people experience symptoms at a very experience symptoms at a very early age, it can fully develop at early age, it can fully develop at any point during the lifespan.any point during the lifespan.

Signs and Symptoms of GADSigns and Symptoms of GAD

Not everyone with GAD have the same symptoms, but most people Not everyone with GAD have the same symptoms, but most people with GAD experience a combination of a number of the following with GAD experience a combination of a number of the following physical and psychological symptoms:physical and psychological symptoms: Physical Symptoms:Physical Symptoms: muscle tension, aches, soreness, trouble muscle tension, aches, soreness, trouble falling/staying asleep, stomach problems, nausea, unsteadiness, and falling/staying asleep, stomach problems, nausea, unsteadiness, and restless.restless.

Psychological Symptoms: Psychological Symptoms: irritability, inability to control anxious thoughts, irritability, inability to control anxious thoughts, inability to relax, difficulty concentrating, fear of losing control or being inability to relax, difficulty concentrating, fear of losing control or being rejected.rejected.

Children and GAD: Children and GAD: in children excessive worrying is mainly focuses on in children excessive worrying is mainly focuses on future events, past behaviors, and school performances. Unlike adults with future events, past behaviors, and school performances. Unlike adults with GAD, children and teens with GAD often don’t realize that their anxiety is GAD, children and teens with GAD often don’t realize that their anxiety is disproportionate. disproportionate.

Causes Causes

Chemical ExplanationChemical Explanation

Treatment/TherapyTreatment/Therapy

Living With GADLiving With GAD

GAD produces exaggerated worry GAD produces exaggerated worry about everyday things. Individuals about everyday things. Individuals with GAD experience unrealistic with GAD experience unrealistic concerns over issues of family, concerns over issues of family, work, health, and money, far work, health, and money, far beyond what an average person beyond what an average person feels. feels. People with Generalized Anxiety People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder almost report poor quality Disorder almost report poor quality of life and much of this has to do of life and much of this has to do with their tendency to live “in the with their tendency to live “in the future” future”

In general, people with anxiety can In general, people with anxiety can lead to violence but in most cases, lead to violence but in most cases, people with GAD tend to feel more people with GAD tend to feel more helpless and depressed. helpless and depressed.

How GAD Impacts Relationships How GAD Impacts Relationships and Families.and Families.

In general, the whole family In general, the whole family suffers when an individual suffers suffers when an individual suffers from anxiety. from anxiety.

Relationships between parents Relationships between parents and children, siblings, spouses and children, siblings, spouses and extended family members and extended family members

become strained.become strained. Communication becomes a Communication becomes a challenge due to the symptoms.challenge due to the symptoms.

Family members may withdrawal Family members may withdrawal from eachother. from eachother.

Resources Available to People Resources Available to People With GADWith GAD

Most insurance plans Most insurance plans cover treatments for cover treatments for anxiety disorder. anxiety disorder.

For people who don’t For people who don’t have insurance, local have insurance, local city or county city or county governments may governments may offer treatment at a offer treatment at a clinic or health center.clinic or health center.