Patient education: Generalized anxiety disorder (The Basics)

When is anxiety a medical problem? — 

Everyone feels anxious or nervous once in a while. This is normal. But sometimes, people have lots of anxiety that does not go away and gets in the way of their life. When a person is extremely anxious or worried on most days for 6 months or longer, it is called "generalized anxiety disorder."

Generalized anxiety disorder is just 1 anxiety disorder. There are others, such as panic disorder and phobias. This article focuses on generalized anxiety disorder.

What are the symptoms of extreme or severe anxiety? — 

People with extreme or severe anxiety feel very worried or "on edge" much of the time. You might feel very anxious about things like health, work, and relationships. You might also worry more than normal about small things.

You might also have other symptoms, like:

●Trouble sleeping

●Trouble focusing

●Physical symptoms, like feeling very tired, tense muscles, stomach aches, or chest tightness

Will I need tests? — 

If you are struggling with anxiety, see your doctor or nurse. They can ask you questions to "measure" your anxiety level. This is often done to "screen" for anxiety during regular checkups.

Screening includes questions about:

●Your symptoms, and how often they happen

●Whether your anxiety gets in the way of things like work or relationships

If your doctor thinks another health problem could be causing your symptoms, they might do tests.

How is anxiety treated? — 

Treatments include:

●Psychotherapy – This involves talking with a mental health counselor about your feelings, relationships, and worries. Therapy can help you feel less anxious by:

•Finding new ways of thinking about your situation

•Learning new skills

●Medicines – Medicines used to treat depression can relieve anxiety, too, even in people who are not depressed. Your doctor or nurse will decide which medicines are best for you. This depends on your preferences as well as any other medicines you take.

Some people have psychotherapy and take medicines at the same time.

There is no reason to feel embarrassed about getting treatment for anxiety. Anxiety is a common problem. It affects all kinds of people.

It might take a while to find the right treatment. People respond in different ways to medicines and therapy. You might need to try a few approaches before you find the one that helps you most. The keys are to not give up and to tell your doctor or nurse how you feel along the way.

What can I do on my own to help my anxiety? — 

People with anxiety disorders often have to deal with some anxiety for the rest of their life. For some people, anxiety comes and goes, but gets worse during times of stress. In addition to treatment, there are things you can do to help manage this.

It might help to:

●Move your body – Exercise can help you feel less anxious. Even gentle forms of exercise, like walking, are good for your health.

●Limit or avoid caffeine – Cut down on or stop drinking coffee and other sources of caffeine. Caffeine can make anxiety worse.

●Find healthy ways to manage stress – It might help to try "mindfulness-based stress reduction." This involves going to a group program to practice relaxation and meditation. Activities like yoga, tai chi, or meditation can also help you manage your anxiety.

●Eat a healthy diet – Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can help with your overall health. Try to limit or avoid alcohol.

●Get plenty of sleep every night – People who regularly do not get enough sleep are more likely to develop anxiety.

Be careful about herbal products that claim to relieve anxiety. For example, herbs called "kava kava" and "valerian" are sold as treatments for anxiety. But there is no evidence these work. Plus, kava kava has been linked with serious liver damage. It might not be safe.

What if I want to get pregnant? — 

If you take medicines to treat anxiety, talk to your doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Some of these medicines can cause problems for a developing baby. You might need to switch medicines before you get pregnant.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if:

●Your symptoms are getting worse, even with treatment.

●Your medicine is causing bothersome side effects.

●You have questions about your anxiety medicines or any other medicines you take.

More on this topic

Patient education: Anxiety in children and teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Panic disorder (The Basics)
Patient education: Social anxiety disorder (The Basics)
Patient education: Medicines for depression (The Basics)
Patient education: Exercise and movement (The Basics)
Patient education: Coping with worry and stress (The Basics)
Patient education: Diet and health (The Basics)
Patient education: Good sleep hygiene (The Basics)
Patient education: Psychotherapy (The Basics)

Patient education: Depression treatment options for adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Exercise (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Diet and health (Beyond the Basics)