Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms often go unrecognized. This disorder can be evident in a child or an adult. In children worry is about past behaviors, school, future events and their own abilities. While this may be normal to a degree, when carried to the extreme some red flags need to go up.
They become afraid of making mistakes. Their obsessive drive towards perfection can cause some rather depressed moments. They are quick to criticize themselves. There are times that they internalize the blame for any disaster in their life, divorce, death, siblings getting into trouble and other things along those lines.
They also feel that if their friends parents get divorced, their parents probably will too. They “know” that any misfortune is contagious and will eventually be theirs to bear. They seed constant approval and reassurance.
In adults the generalized anxiety disorder symptoms are much the same. The major difference is that many adults manifest physical symptoms as well.
- Aches, soreness or tension in their muscles.
- Sleep problems. Either falling asleep or remaining asleep.
- Nausea and diarrhea.
- Restlessness.
- Fatigue
Psychological symptoms of GAD are:
- irritability
- dread
- no control over anxiety
- unable to relax
- unable to concentrate
- fear of being rejected or of losing control
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All of these symptoms can fluctuate. You may not exhibit them every day, but at certain times of the day. You have an up and down mood change that can inhibit your productivity and affect your daily life. These changes can occur several times each day, or for days at a time.
Some people have days of anxiety and a difficult time controlling those feelings. It is as though anything that happens to someone else is bound to happen to them. When it does it will be a lot worse, so I’ll just worry about all of the negative possibilities I will encounter when that happens.
Stress is the enemy of someone with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. It may not cause it but it will exacerbate the generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. Stress cannot be avoided. It is a part of life. Some stress is negative and other stress can be the result of planning a birthday party. There is no rational reason for the stress, it is just one of the symptoms of the disorder.
The ability to handle that stress and postpone the worrying until the event is over will take a lot of practice and work. Self help is possible and one of the primary things a person can do is to learn relaxation techniques. It doesn’t matter if it is learning deep breathing exercises, incorporating a 30 minute walk into the day or beginning a yoga class. Learning to meditate helps as well.
It can be a simple process, but one that will probably worry a person with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. They will worry about whether or not they are doing it correctly and if they can do it better. The support for friends and family is a vital part of treatment.