Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by six months or more of chronic, exaggerated worry and tension that is unfounded or much more severe than the normal anxiety most people experience. People with this disorder usually:
• Expect the worst
• Worry excessively about money, health, family or work, when there are no signs of trouble
• Are unable to relax
• Are irritable
• are easily startled
• can't control their excessive worrying
• Suffer from insomnia
Common body symptoms are:
• feeling tired for no reason;
• headaches;
• muscle tension and aches;
• having a hard time swallowing;
• trembling or twitching;
• sweating;
• nausea;
• feeling lightheaded;
• feeling out of breath;
• having to go to the bathroom a lot; and
• hot flashes
In children and adolescents with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, their anxieties and worries are often associated with the quality of performance or competence at school or sporting events. Additionally, worries may include punctuality, conformity, perfectionism and are so unsure of themselves that they will redo tasks in order to reach that level of perfection.
