What is GAD?
Do you feel apprehensive and dread? These feelings are commonly associated with the perception that something bad will happen. You might also feel that you are worrying excessively and have been doing so for many months if not years. This worry is very difficult to control. You may also experience muscle tension and excessive nervous energy due to being in a constant state of preparedness. Typically physical symptoms are muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance and concentration difficulties.
How common is GAD?
If this sounds familiar to you it may be that you have a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). It is a common anxiety disorder that affects 4-7% of the population and is twice as likely to affect woman as men. Often GAD is triggered by a trauma for example unexpected separations such as being separated from premature babies requiring hospitalisation. It may be brought on by an episode of vertigo associated with Meniere’s Disease where people are left with feeling they have no control. Other stressful life events can also trigger GAD such as an unexpectedly end of a relationship or a sudden death.
Why me?
People often question how can this have happened to me? Some of the factors that contribute to GAD are over protective parenting styles, punitive or intrusive parenting and insecure attachment.
Physical symptoms
It is common for people with GAD to have a high prevalence of somatisation especially: Gastro intestinal – diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, upset stomachs; Muscular pain- back and neck pain; and Cardio vascular- shortness of breath, palpitations and chest pain.
What is life like with GAD?
Living with GAD involves a constant anxious apprehension. There is high level of contemplating or ruminative mental activity specifically over-analysing, over planning, anticipating and imagining. This limits the ability of people to focus on the present. People report being trapped in a world of dangers which makes it difficult for them to enjoy the present. The muscle tension and nervous energy experienced causes discomfort, tiredness and sleep disturbance.
Why all this worry?
The defining feature f GAD is excessive worrying. The content of worrying is the same as other people: health (self and others); family (particularly children); future; finances; safety; social or interpersonal issues. The worrying is excessively frequent and often speculative entertaining: “what if” questions. The worrying is repetitive and the worrying what if events are linked with each being markedly worse with the worry ending in catastrophe. The worry does not attain resolution and is considered as being uncontrollable.
What can be done?
Sometimes clients have periods of remission (three months or longer with no symptoms). However an extended remission is unlikely without treatment. Effective treatments involve a combination of approaches including Cognitive behavioural Therapy; mindfulness; and applied relaxation. If you are concerned that you might be experiencing GAD please consult with your GP and discuss your symptoms. Your GP will make a decision whether you are entitled to a mental health treatment plan which gives you access upto 10 sessions of psychological treatment per calendar year with a Medicare rebate.
MWP 