General Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Anxiety and worries are a common part of daily life: health issues, emotional problems, work difficulties, money, exams and so on, give one plenty of subjects to think of. The difference between normal anxiety and general anxiety disorder symptoms results from the frequency and the disruptive nature of the worries. It is the intensity with which problems affect you, keeping the mind extremely busy at a much higher than normal level. Then, doctors speak of GAD or generalized anxiety disorder and there are two types of symptoms specific to this nervous ailment. They include physiological and psychological manifestations of a varying intensity.

The physiological general anxiety disorder symptoms include muscular tension with soreness or aches, insomnia, digestive problems such as abnormal bowel movement or nausea, jumpiness and fatigue. People who suffer from an anxiety disorder will be a lot more restless and they will feel tired without any apparent reason. In fact, the cause of the physical exhaustion comes from the chemical imbalance at the brain level as well as from the improper night rest. Among the psychological general anxiety disorder symptoms we should mention the inability to control thoughts, irritability, the impossibility to relax, concentration problems, fears of all kinds particularly of rejection.

For children and teenagers, general anxiety disorder symptoms have to be recognized by adults because the people in question cannot realize whether their worrying is disproportionate with the situation or not. Besides the symptoms that are common regardless of the patient's age, there are some distinct signs to recognize in children suffering from GAD. Thus, most of them have the 'what if' worry they extend over a situation far in the future. Then, very young patients show great fear of mistakes, excessive self-criticism, intense self-blaming and the constant need for approval and reassurance. Even if you recognize some of these signs in your child's behavior, the diagnosis can only be passed by a professional.

Once the general anxiety disorder symptoms are confirmed by an expert opinion, the next step is to establish a course of action and a treatment. Medication will usually be prescribed if the condition is very intense and the patients have difficulties coping with their worries, but drugs only work for a limited period of time. Their action has to be supported by intense psychotherapy and alternative treatments meant to induce relaxation and teach the patient how to self-soothe. Anyone who suffers from general anxiety disorder symptoms should learn how to deal with them, reducing their intensity and eventually preventing the panic attack from starting.