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Samantha Kern

Mrs. Pasquini

American Literature

2 March 2017

Generalized Anxiety Disorder vs. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

“According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders affect

about 40 million Americans over the age eighteen per year, about 18 percent of the population”

(Mooney 12). Everyone experiences some anxiety from time to time, but many people are faced

with extreme stress every day. Individuals may overlook anxiety disorders because anxiety is a

normal occurrence in people’s lives. Having disorders like generalized anxiety disorders and

post-traumatic stress disorder can make each and every day an exhausting task. Generalized

anxiety disorder(GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) may share common symptoms

and treatment methods, but in the end, PTSD can be more devastating and harder to manage than

GAD.

When experiencing generalized anxiety disorder, various symptoms can correctly

diagnose this condition. People with GAD are often overwhelmed with uncertainty when

completing ordinary activities, even when there is no reason to feel worried (Mooney 14). The

abnormal amount of anxiety can cause someone to encounter physical symptoms such as,

trembling, twitching, headaches, muscle tension, irritability, lightheadedness, and sweating (14).

Trouble concentrating, tensing up, and being jumpy are some other frequent symptoms (10).

Individuals can have a terrible time sleeping, so insomnia is common with GAD (14). It 's hard

to see that something as simple as having anxiety can cause so many problems. The symptoms of
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this disorder may not always be so serious. For example, people with moderate anxiety can go

about their day with little interruptions (Mooney 14).

Before treating generalized anxiety disorder, it must be correctly diagnosed. The physical

symptoms of this disorder can be similar to other diseases, so there can be confusion when

recognizing GAD in a patient (Mooney 51). Medications such as benzodiazepines and buspirone

are used when treating GAD (54). They will not cure anxiety, but they will keep it under control

(54). Other various remedies can be found when treating GAD that doesn't require medication.

Relaxation methods such as yoga and meditation can reduce someone’s anxiety (Kallen 57).

When handling this disorder, it is essential for a person to improve their living (57). Once their

anxiety is under control, it is crucial to remove all stressful things from their life (57). A

stress-free life is an easier way to live, especially when dealing with a disorder like GAD.

Besides GAD another commonly found anxiety disorder is PTSD. Someone who is

facing this disease will usually recall their traumatic event. This event can occur in forms of

images, thoughts, flashbacks, dreams, or even feelings that remind the person of their incident in

great detail (Mooney 18). Likewise to GAD, PTSD can cause individuals to be sleepless,

irritable, and always on the watch for danger (18). The symptoms may not occur immediately,

and can even go into effect well after the incident is over (18). Since everyone is different,

someone may not even know they have PTSD because their symptoms could be delayed. Some

people may believe there is something wrong with them because their symptoms may not match

the symptoms of someone else (Reece 39). Even though two people can experience the same

problems, the outcome can be different for the both of them (Reece 39).
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Once it is clear that a person has PTSD, it is important to find a treatment method.

Avoiding treatment may be alright at first, but over time it can cause symptoms to continue and

worsen (Reece 39). Therapy is most frequently used with PTSD, specifically exposure therapy.

Reported by Mooney, “Exposure therapy is a particular technique used to reduce a patient’s fear

and anxiety responses over time.” (Mooney 57). This type of treatment motivates patients to look

back on their traumatic event in a safe place, so the fear generated can be decreased (Mooney

57). Also, cognitive behavior therapy is beginning to be a more reliable option for therapists

(Streisand 55-62). With this technique, a new meaning for the traumatic event will be created,

causing the mind to comprehend it differently (55-62). Similar to GAD, relaxation methods like

meditation and yoga are helpful with PTSD patients (Mooney 59). Dealing with extreme anxiety

is stressful, so it is vital for the mind to relax once in awhile.

Ultimately, GAD and PTSD are two conditions that are difficult to control. Although

they are both anxiety disorders, the symptoms and treatment methods of these circumstances

show many differences. Based on the individual's situation, these disorders can arise during

various time frames of life. Every person’s disease is unique and affects their day to day lives in

different ways. Anxiety is a serious condition, and by just looking around, one can see how

serious it is.
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Works Cited

Kallen, Ben. ”Peace of Mind: if you always feel anxious and stressed, you may have Generalized

Anxiety Disorder. Here’s how to reclaim a sense of calm.” ​Natural Health​ Dec. 2007:

57+.​ Infotrac Student Edition.​ Web. 12 Feb. 2017.

Mooney, Carla. ​What is Anxiety Disorder.​ San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2015:

Infobase eBooks​. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.

Reece, Beth. “Invisible Wounds of War.” ​Soldiers Magazine​ Apr. 2005: 39. ​Infotrac Student

Edition​. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.

Streisand, Betsy. “Treating War’s Toll on the Mind.” ​U.S. News and World Report​ Oct. 2006:

55-62. ​Infotrac Student Edition.​ Web. 27 Feb. 2017.