Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves excessive anxiety and worry occurring
more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities where
the individual finds it difficult to control the worry. The anxiety, worry, or physical
symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational,
or other important areas of functioning. The anxiety and worry are associated with
at least three (or more) of the following symtoms:

• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
• Feeling easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Sleep disturbance
  

Approximately 7% of the population will suffer from GAD. It has been estimated
that about 30% of the causes of GAD are inherited. Inaccurate thinking is a significant
causative factor in GAD. People with GAD seem to be worried that bad things will
happen most of the time. They predict that horrible things will happen and that when
they feel anxious it means that something bad is more likely to happen. Many people who
worry feel that their worry provides some protection and that if they do not worry bad
things are more likely to happen.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has proven to be more effective than medications in the
treatment of GAD and leads to a reduction of medications when they are utilized. About
50% of patients who receive this type of treatment show significant improvement that
is maintained when treatment is concluded. CBT will help you to identify and change
your beliefs about the costs and benefits of worrying.

During the course of treatment for GAD you will also learn to distinguish between
productive vs. unproductive worry and to understand the difference between anxiety
that is normal and facilitative vs. anxiety that is debilitative and counterproductive. In
addition to Cognitive Therapy, adjunctive techniques such as Applied Relaxation
Training, Problem Solving, and Time Management may be very helpful.