Generalized Anxiety Disorder

 mentally and physically exhausting  drains your mental energy  keeps you from sleeping and unwinding  wears your body out What is GAD? a general feeling of dread or unease that colors your whole life

Causes  May run in family  May also grow worse during stress Usually begins at an earlier age

Signs & Symptoms Emotional  Constant worries running through your head  Feeling like your anxiety is uncontrollable; there is nothing you can do to stop the worrying  Intrusive thoughts about things that make you anxious; you try to avoid thinking about them, but you can’t  An inability to tolerate uncertainty; you need to know what’s going to happen in the future  A pervasive feeling of apprehension or dread

Signs & Symptoms Physical  Feeling tense  Have trouble falling asleep Behavioral  Inability to relax  Difficulty concentrating

Treatment Usually self–help is enough  Connect with others  Learn to calm down  Practice relaxation Medications are recommended for temporarily use Seek professional help to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment