The Difference Between Normal Anxiety and GAD

The Difference Between Normal Anxiety and GAD GAD Symptoms Print The Difference Between Normal Anxiety and GAD By William Meek Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD on November 23, 2019 twitter linkedin Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Daniel B. Block, MD on November 23, 2019 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Hero Images / Getty Images Differentiating between normal anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can be tricky. How do you know, especially if you are a little more anxious than others, whether or not your anxiety is significant enough to qualify as a disorder? Generalized Anxiety Disorder Many people feel anxious from time to time, especially during times of stress. However, when you worry excessively, so much so that it interferes with day-to-day activities, you might have GAD.?? Some people develop GAD as a child while others do not see symptoms until they are an adult. Either way, living with GAD can last a long time. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders. In most cases, it improves with medications or ?talk therapy (psychotherapy).?? Making lifestyle changes, learning coping skills and using relaxation techniques also can help. Symptoms GAD symptoms can include:?? Persistent worrying or obsession with small or large concerns thats out of proportion to the impact of the eventInability to set aside or let go of a worryInability to relax, restlessness, and feeling keyed up or on edgeDifficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind goes blankWorrying about excessively worryingDistress about making decisions for fear of making the wrong decisionCarrying every option in a situation all the way out to its possible negative conclusionDifficulty handling uncertainty or indecisiveness Physical signs and symptoms may include:?? FatigueIrritabilityMuscle tension or muscle achesTrembling, feeling twitchyBeing easily startledTrouble sleepingSweatingNausea, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndromeHeadachesMemory problems Do You Have an Anxiety Disorder? The following is a brief guide to determining whether generalized anxiety disorder may be something that you are struggling with.?? 1. Severe Although at times the anxiety that all people experience can be somewhat severe, a characteristic of GAD is that this anxiety is usually more intense and long-lasting. If you have more severe anxiety than most other people you know, then it may be more than normal anxiety. 2. Disproportionate The experience of anxiety for most people is proportionate to the intensity of the situation. For example, if there was a minor anxiety-provoking situation, then the experience of anxiety is typically minor as well. People with GAD tend to become more anxious than the situation appears to warrant. Therefore, if you are someone who has more severe anxiety over “things that shouldn’t be a big deal,” it may be more than normal anxiety. 3. About Everything When people experience normal anxiety they tend to worry about things related to the anxiety-provoking situation, or several other things that make them fearful. People with GAD tend to be described as worrying about everything all the time.” If that describes you, it may be more than normal anxiety. 4. No Control Most people can reduce and control their anxiety through a variety of coping techniques and the ability to calm oneself. However, people with GAD have significant difficulty finding relaxation, calm, and time away from their worries. If you have more difficulty than other people you know in controlling your anxiety, it may be more than normal anxiety. The 7 Best Online Anxiety Support Groups