It’s estimated that about 3.8% of adults in the U.S. are affected by generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). That’s nearly 7 million people struggling with the impact of anxiety each day. While it can affect people differently, it’s very clear that we have a GAD problem not just in our country, but across the globe.
GAD is a mental health condition that causes extreme, persistent worry about everyday things. When you have it, you might find it difficult to relax. You might feel like you’re always on edge or that there is a threat around every corner.
Generalized anxiety disorder can differ in severity from person to person, but it’s nothing to take lightly. Let’s dive into what GAD feels like, how it affects daily life, and what you can do to fight back.
How Does GAD Make You Feel?
Everyone worries from time to time. However, when you’re dealing with GAD, those worries often come out of nowhere, and they’re persistent. At any given moment, you might start worrying about your health, finances, your family, your job, or the future. There doesn’t need to be a specific threat or suggestion that something could be “wrong” to trigger your fear. Rather, your mind can make up worst-case scenarios.
Not only do people with GAD deal with excessive worry, but they also have a hard time controlling it. Even if you know your worries are excessive or likely won’t happen, it can be difficult to turn them off.
Physically, a constant state of worry can cause things like sleep issues, headaches and pain, digestive problems, and more. You might find it difficult to concentrate on things throughout the day because your thoughts are consumed by your worries. As a result, you can become easily irritable and frustrated from being on edge more often than not.
How Does GAD Affect Your Life?
Unfortunately, GAD can impact nearly every area of your life, from your relationships to your career. It often causes social withdrawal. It’s not uncommon for fears and worries to take over even when you’re out with people you love. It puts such a strain on relationships that you might find it difficult to communicate with others or maintain connections because of trust issues and fear.
Professionally, anxiety can make it difficult to concentrate and stay focused on the tasks you have to do. The stress you feel can cause productivity issues. On days when your anxiety feels overwhelming, you might find it impossible to even go to work, leading to absenteeism that could put your job security in danger.
GAD tends to negatively impact a person’s overall quality of life. It’s hard to find enjoyment in things, including hobbies and activities you used to enjoy. Fear puts a cloak over everything, so it’s difficult to experience happiness or joy. It should come as no surprise, then, that many people with anxiety are also at a greater risk of developing depression.
What Can You Do?
If there’s a silver lining to dealing with GAD, it’s that it’s often very manageable with the right help and support.
Start by prioritizing self-care. Get enough sleep each night. Stay active. Spend time with people you love and don’t be afraid to open up about your feelings and struggles. Your loved ones want to help and support you.
Try stress-reducing techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and even journaling. Sometimes, simply grounding yourself in the present can cause those anxious thoughts to feel less overwhelming.
Perhaps the best thing you can do to deal with GAD, however, is to work with a mental health professional. Anxiety counseling will make it easier to understand what’s causing your anxiety while giving you helpful, effective strategies to manage your symptoms.
If you’re tired of GAD taking a toll on your quality of life, contact me today for a consultation.