2: Do I have GAD? 

• Symptoms 

Symptoms – Generalised anxiety disorder in adults 

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect you both physically and mentally. 

How severe the symptoms are varies from person to person. Some people have only a few symptoms, while others have many more. 

Psychological symptoms of GAD 

GAD can cause a change in your behaviour and the way you think and feel about things, resulting in symptoms such as: 

• restlessness 
• a sense of dread or fear 
• feeling constantly “on edge” 
• difficulty concentrating 
• irritability 

Your symptoms may cause you to withdraw from social contact (seeing your family and friends) to avoid feelings of worry and fear. 

You may also find going to work difficult and stressful and may take time off sick. These actions can make you worry even more about yourself and increase your lack of self-esteem. 

Physical symptoms of GAD 

GAD can also have a number of physical symptoms, including: 

• dizziness 
• tiredness 
• a noticeably strong, fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations) 
• muscle aches and tension 
• trembling or shaking 
• dry mouth 
• excessive sweating 
• shortness of breath 
• stomach ache 
• feeling sick 
• headache 
• pins and needles 
• difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia) 

Citation: NHS Website 

GAD does not have a single cause. Your genes, social environment and life experiences all play a role, and interact with each other. If you have a close family member with GAD, you are four to six times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. However, no single gene causes anxiety disorders. Instead, multiple genes, each having a small effect, interact to increase your risk.

Psychological treatments for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): 

Both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (sometimes shortened to CBT Therapy) and Applied Relaxation involve weekly meetings with a CBT Therapist for about 3 to 4 months.
 

CBT Therapy helps you to understand how your problems, thoughts, feelings and behaviour affect each other. It can also help you to question your negative and anxious thoughts and do things you would usually avoid because they make you anxious. 

Applied Relaxation involves learning how to use muscle relaxation techniques when you are feeling anxious or in situations that could make you feel anxious. Your healthcare professional will help you to gradually encounter and cope with these situations. 

If you do not think that the course of CBT Therapy or applied relaxation has helped you, you should be offered medication. 

Generalised anxiety disorder F41.1

21. The essential feature is anxiety which is not restricted to any particular environment
or stressful event. The anxiety symptoms are often said to be “free-floating” in this
situation. There is pervasive worry with ideas such as fear of illness in the sufferer or
in members of their family. In addition there are feelings of nervousness and
apprehension with physical symptoms such as light-headedness, muscular tension,
inability to relax, palpitations, dizziness and sweating.

22. The diagnostic criteria in ICD-10 in brief are:

22.1. That there must be a period of at least 6 months in which there has been
prominent tension, worry and apprehension about everyday problems.

22.2. In addition there are at least four of the symptoms of anxiety listed in
paragraph 10.1-10.4 above.

22.3. In addition there is muscle tension, restlessness and inability to relax, feeling
“on edge” or tense, a sensation of a lump in the throat or difficulty
swallowing. There may also be an exaggerated response to being startled,
difficulty concentrating, persisting irritability and difficulty getting to sleep
because of worrying.

22.4. Similar symptoms can be caused by physical disorders such as
hyperthyroidism, the consumption of amphetamines or withdrawal from
benzodiazepines. To be diagnosed as generalised anxiety disorder none of
these physical disorders must be present.

22.5. The sufferer must have the symptoms on most days, for at least several
weeks at a time (and usually for several months).

23. The disorder also appears in DSM-IV. However at least six symptoms must be
present (as opposed to four in ICD-10). It has also been noted that the condition is
very difficult to diagnose, different diagnosticians varying greatly in their opinions as
the symptoms are very common in many other psychiatric disorders.