Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a disorder characterized by excessive uncontrollable anxiety and worry about one or a number of issues such as personal health, work, social interactions, and everyday routine life circumstances.
Characteristics
- Difficulty with or inability to control anxiety and worry.
- Feelings of panic, doom or danger – panic attacks (sweating, trembling, heart palpitations, shortness of breath)
- Hypervigilance, irritability or restlessness
- Lack of concentration, racing thoughts or unwanted thoughts
Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life such as feeling anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships. (reference)
Example Behaviors
- Negative-self talk (e.g. “I am going to look stupid”)
- Sleep disturbances
- Avoidance behaviors (e.g. avoiding social settings)
There’s Help
If you recognize these characteristics and behaviors in yourself or in a loved one, there is help. At Water Gap Wellness, we treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder and other mental health diagnoses. Our trained medical and clinical staff will help you manage the diagnosis while giving you hope for a productive and healthy future. Get started today 1-833-949-4673. Our friendly admissions counselors are standing by to help.