GENERALIZED

ANXIETY DISORDER
(GAD)

By: Astrid Zamora

&
Crystal Guzman
GENERAL ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)
  is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by excessive,
uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday
things that is disproportionate to the actual source of
worry.
SOME PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ANXIETY.
 In Example:
 Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

 Heart disease

 Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism

 Menopause
SYMTOMS INCLUDE:
 Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
 Being easily fatigued

 Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank

 Irritability

 Muscle tension

 Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or

restless unsatisfying sleep)
FACTS:

 People with GAD can't seem to shake their concerns,

even though they usually realize that their anxiety is
more intense than the situation warrants.
 People with GAD also seem unable to relax. They often
have trouble falling or staying asleep. Their worries are
accompanied by physical symptoms, especially
trembling, twitching, muscle tension, headaches,
irritability, sweating, or hot flashes.
 They may feel lightheaded or out of breath. They may
feel nauseated or have to go to the bathroom frequently.
Or they might feel as though they have a lump in the
throat.
TREATMENT:
  Typically the most effective treatment will be an
approach which incorporates both psychological and
psychopharmacologic approaches.
 Medications, while usually helpful in treating the bodily
symptoms of acute anxiety (e.g., panic attacks), are best
used for this disorder as a short-term treatment only (a
few months).
 Clinicians should be especially watchful of the
individual becoming psychologically or physiologically
addicted to certain anti-anxiety medications, such as
Xanax

[Psychcental.com]
CASE STUDY :“I CAN’T STOP MY HEAD”
 Nancy L. is 45 year old
married lawyer with
chronic generalized anxiety.
 She worried constantly
about her parents, who were
healthy, and school even
though she was a good
student.
 She was able to grow out of
these fears except she still
had a terrible fear of
spiders.
NANCY L. CASE STUDY: (CONTINUED)
 Nancy experienced
insomnia, irritability,
tension, and fatigue.
 Over the last 25 years
suffered 6 major
episodes of anxiety
lasting 3-4 months to a
•She was put on low dosages of
year. benzodiazepines, which she took as
 These are triggered by needed for fear of addiction
situational stressors •Later was put on fluoxetine & she
discontinued because it made her
jittery.
 A D
G Sigmund Freud
T H
I
S W Michael Jackson
U RE
FI G
U S
M O
FA Cher

Oprah Winfrey

Johnny Depp