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By James D. Cowart, Ph.D.
As you may already know, in the USA, the incidence of all known anxiety disorders is 13% of the adult population each year. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), alone, is found in almost 3% of adults. GAD is made up of chronic, intense worry and the resulting negative effects of that worry on the person experiencing the disorder. The topics of the worry vary, but may include worries about one's own health or the health of loved ones, worries about career & finances or worries about crime or an accident befalling oneself or loved ones. The worry usually goes to catastrophic ends. The effects of the worry may include feeling chronically tense and "jumpy" with an easily triggered startle response, trouble falling to sleep or waking up and having trouble falling back to sleep, and a general sense of dread. Frequently depression occurs along with GAD. If depression is also present, then many or all of the signs and symptoms of depression may also be found, including feeling "blue" or hopeless, low energy, little enjoyment from recreational activities and perhaps thoughts of death.
A typical person with GAD might worry that the boss's frown two days before meant that the boss was about to reprimand and fire the person and that the person would never be able to get another job, etc. Another typical worry might be that one's loved one who hadn't called in 24 hours must have been the victim of a crime or accident, etc.
GAD, like other anxiety disorders is treatable with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and with medication (frequently an anti-depressant).
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