Generalized Anxiety Disorder Health Center
Table of Contents
People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) go through the day filled with exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. They anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about health issues, money, family problems, or difficulties at work. Sometimes just the thought of getting through the day produces anxiety.
Often they have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Physical symptoms that often accompany the anxiety include fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, having to go to the bathroom frequently, feeling out of breath, and hot flashes.
A person with GAD may:
- worry very much about everyday things
- have trouble controlling their constant worries
- know that they worry much more than they should
- not be able to relax
- have a hard time concentrating
- be easily startled
- have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- feel tired all the time
- have headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches, or unexplained pains
- have a hard time swallowing
- tremble or twitch
- be irritable, sweat a lot, and feel light-headed or out of breath
- have to go to the bathroom a lot