Understanding worry and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
We all worry and feel anxious from time to time. It is a normal human reaction to busy or stressful events happening in our life. Usually, this only happens for a short period of time.
People with excessive worry, known as Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) worry more days than not, for many months, or even years. Sometimes they can recognise being a worrier most of their life. Having GAD impacts significantly upon the person’s day to day life. It stops them from doing things in life that they would otherwise do. When people have GAD they worry about everyday things like health, relationships, finances, work or your family - but to a degree that is out of proportion. Worrying can feel very hard to control and impacts negatively on day to day life. It can be hard to imagine not worrying. The anxiety and worry can get worse on the build up to a big life event or situation happening, such as planning to move home, having a baby or dealing with changes at work. People often describe feeling on edge or a sense of dread, as if something bad is about to happen. Situations in life that are unpredictable, uncertain or feel out of control can be particularly difficult to manage. Worrying and the anxiety experienced makes the person feel tense most of the time. They can experience more aches and pains, tension headaches, poor sleep or stomach problems as a result. Worrying takes up lots of time and energy, leaving little room for other things. It can lead to feeling irritable or struggling to concentrate. Worrying distracts the person from what is going on around them at that time. They become caught up in their internal world of worrying thoughts and symptoms of anxiety. People often describe feeling that they cannot fully enjoy or participate in things happening in their life as the worry and anxiety takes the focus away from it for them.
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© Marie Chellingsworth (2020). The CBT Resource.
