Understanding GAD: Physical Symptoms and How to Manage Them

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming, irrational and uncontrollable fear and worry about everyday things. Many physical symptoms have also been associated with GAD.

General Symptoms

• Sufferers from GAD often exhibit physical symptoms that impair their ability to function on a daily basis. Some of the most common symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching and irritability.

Painful Symptoms

• Other common physical symptoms are actually painful, and include headaches, nausea, muscle pain, rashes, muscle tension and difficulty breathing. Other reported symptoms include diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.

Treatment

• There are a number of treatments currently available for GAD sufferers. Counseling can help address the root causes of the anxiety and give the patient tools to cope with their condition. Many anti-anxiety drugs are also available to help patients.

Other Conditions

• GAD is often accompanied by other anxiety disorders, depression or substance abuse. Stressful environments and experiences can also intensify GAD symptoms.

Prevalence

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 6.8 million Americans suffer from GAD. Women are two to three times more likely than men to suffer from GAD.