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1、What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) find themselves worried most of the time. It is a real illness. GAD can be treated with medicine and therapy. If you have GAD, you worry all the time about your family
2、, health, or work, even when there are no signs of trouble. Sometimes you arent worried about anything special, but feel tense and worried all day long. You also have aches and pains for no reason and feel tired a lot. Everyone gets worried sometimes, but if you have GAD, you stay worried, fear the
3、worst will happen, and cannot relax.When does GAD start and how long does it last?Most often GAD starts when a person is still a child or teenager. It can start in an adult too. More women than men have this illness. People with GAD may visit their doctor many times before they find out what their r
4、eal illness is. They ask their doctor to help them with the signs of GAD like headaches or trouble falling asleep, but dont get help for the illness itself.How do I know I have GAD?Most people worry from time to time, and these occasional worries are normal. They dont mean that you have GAD. If you
5、have GAD, you worry so much that it interferes with your daily life, and you feel tense and worried more days than not. Other signs of GAD include: trouble falling or staying asleep, muscle tension, dry mouth, trembling, irritability, trouble concentrating, getting tired easily, restlessness, or fee
6、ling “keyed up“ or on edge. Although some of the symptoms are the same, GAD is not the same as depression. If youre concerned about depression, talk to your doctor immediately. Am I the only one with this illness?No. You are not alone. In any year, 4 million Americans have GAD.What can I do for myse
7、lf? Things that often help are learning ways to relax (such as yoga or deep breathing), exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep and, most importantly, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and drug abuse.What else can I do to get help?If you think you have an anxiety disorder, you should see your family
8、doctor. A doctor can determine whether the symptoms that alarm you are due to an anxiety disorder, another medical condition, or both. Talk to your doctor about your constant worry and tension. Tell your doctor about any other signs of GAD that you may have, such as aches and pains for no reason or
9、trouble sleeping. Tell your doctor if these problems keep you from doing everyday things and living your life. Ask your doctor for a checkup to make sure you dont have a different illness, such as depression. Ask your doctor if he or she has helped other people with GAD.If an anxiety disorder is dia
10、gnosed, the next step is usually seeing a mental health professional. The mental health professional will work with you to design a treatment plan that works best for you. This may include talk therapy and/or medication. You should feel comfortable talking with the mental health professional you cho
11、ose. If you do not, you should seek help elsewhere. YouWhat can a doctor or counselor do to help me?The doctor may give you medicine. But it may take a few weeks for the medicine to work. Talking to a specially trained doctor or counselor helpsmany people with GAD. This is called “talk” therapy. Thi
12、s therapy can help you learn to deal with your worries. Here is one persons story:“I was worried all the time, about everything. It didnt matter that there were no signs of problems, I just got upset. I was having trouble falling asleep at night, and I couldnt keep my mind focused at work. I felt an
13、gry at my familyall the time. I found myself using alcohol to try and relax. Finally, I saw my doctor and explained about my constant worries. My doctor sent me to someone who knows about GAD. Now I am taking medicine and working with a counselor to cope better with my worries. I had to work hard, b
14、ut I feel better. Im glad I made that first call to my doctor.”Remember - you can get help nowDont blame yourself. It is not your fault you have this illness. You can feel better and get your life back. Talk to your doctor and take action. Any action you take will help you gain a sense of control over your anxiety.For more information, go to MedlinePlus Anxietyhttp:/www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anxiety.html12/06
