General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by the individual worrying excessively about events that may happen. Individuals suffering with GAD will often feel overwhelmed by their worry and find it difficult to control. This excessive worrying can go on for years. People with GAD worry about many facets of their lives, including work, relationships, finances, the well-being of one’s family, potential misfortunes, and impending deadlines. They will often experience physical ailments such as insomnia, fatigue, headaches, trembling, irritable bowel syndrome, and muscle tension. It is also possible that they will have occasional panic attacks.

It is reported that individuals suffering with GAD were more likely than those without the disorder to be unmarried or have experienced multiple divorces, earn a low income, and receive disability benefits. Individuals with GAD were found to perceive themselves as less emotionally and physically healthy than others, and when compared with individuals with diabetes and congestive heart failure, showed greater impairment in the areas of mental health, social functioning, and vitality.

GAD has a significant impact on the quality of life of the individual as well as the individual's family. A person dealing with GAD can experience financial loss, impairment in social functioning, in marital functioning, and disruption of family routines, interactions, and leisure activities.

Effective treatments for GAD include cognitive-behavioral therapy which will assist the individual with recognizing thinking patterns that contribute to their symptoms. Individuals are taught relaxation techniques, and to recognize and react differently to physical changes that result from and facilitate their anxiety. It is very important for the families of individuals suffering from GAD to be involved in the treatment process. Family members can assist the therapist with reality checking the client on worrisome issues. The family can also assist the client with recognizing unhelpful thinking processes of worrying and rumination. Family involvement in the treatment process also breaks the clients isolation and assists them with re-establishing family relationships and becoming engaged in activities that once were satisfying.

Although GAD is considered chronic, worsening during times of stress, cognitive-behavioral therapy has been found to be a very effective treatment that gives individuals suffering with the disorder a means of achieving greater functionality and quality of life.


REFERENCES:


Mogotsi, M., Kaminer, D., and Stein, D.J. (2000). Review: Quality of Life in the Anxiety Disorders. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, December. pp.273-283.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2005). Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Online at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/HealthInformation/gadmenu.cfm