Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GADyleistynyt ahdistusgeneralized anxiety
Persistent and excessive worry about many everyday things, lasting at least six months.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders. It differs from normal worry in that the worry is constant, uncontrollable, and targets many different things simultaneously.
Symptoms
- Persistent, uncontrollable worry about many things
- Restlessness and tension
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Muscle tension and physical pain
- Sleep difficulties (difficulty falling asleep, waking up)
How does GAD differ from normal worry?
Normal worry targets concrete issues and subsides when the situation resolves. In GAD, worry is: - Disproportionate to the actual risk - Difficult to control - Continuous — one worry is replaced by another - Significantly burdensome in daily life
Treatment
- CBT is the most researched effective treatment: identifying worries, building uncertainty tolerance, relaxation techniques
- Medication: SSRIs are the first-line medication
- Self-care: Regular exercise, mindfulness, adequate sleep
- Kela-supported rehabilitation psychotherapy is possible with a GAD diagnosis