[sidebar]Excess Worry? It Could Be GADIf, like Karen, you worry endlessly, you may be one of the 4 million American adults who suffers from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). “People with GAD characteristically worry excessively and feel that their worry is both pervasive and uncontrollable,” says Todd Farchione, PhD, postdoctorate fellow at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University. “They find it difficult to stop worrying, even when they are trying to focus on other things,” he adds. “Often, GAD sufferers have trouble fulfilling their daily responsibilities, finding it hard to function at home, at work, and in social situations. They may even withdraw from important activities.” If you have GAD, you worry about everything, from larger issues such as world affairs to more mundane things such as being late for appointments. And as if all that mental distress weren’t enough, this disorder can cause physical symptoms too, including restlessness, fatigue, irritability, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, and impaired concentration, as well as sweating, nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and diarrhea. Farchione says that anxiety disorders occur much more frequently in people 65 and older than experts originally believed. “In fact, GAD is one of the most common disorders among mature adults,” he says. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America says that most older adults with an anxiety disorder also suffered from one when they were younger. The stresses that can accompany aging, such as chronic physical problems, cognitive impairment, and emotional losses, can cause “dormant” GAD to rise to the surface. [pagebreak] Are You at Risk?As with depression, GAD appears to occur more often in women than in men, says Farchione. In addition, people who have been previously married seem to be at greater risk than those who are either married or single, he says, though experts aren’t sure why. New research shows a number of factors that can put someone at risk for an anxiety disorder, although the presence of any or all of these factors doesn’t necessarily result in a disorder. “Anxiety and related emotional disorders, such as depression, appear to have a common genetic basis and often go hand in hand,” Farchione says. “Environmental factors, such as exposure to uncontrollable and unpredictable events, may play a role in which disorder will be expressed. So it’s safe to say that both genetic and environmental factors are important to the development of GAD.” Help Comes in Many FormsNo matter what the cause, evidence suggests that anxiety may cause older adults to suffer greater disability and diminished well-being, which is why it’s so important to seek treatment if you suspect you may have GAD. Although the disorder rarely improves or disappears on its own, experts agree that it’s very treatable–either with certain forms of talk therapy or medications, or a combination of treatments, including these: Cognitive-behavioral therapy Cognitive therapy helps you change unwanted thought patterns, while behavioral therapy teaches you how to change certain behaviors. (When these two treatments are used together, it’s called cognitive-behavioral therapy.) Once people with GAD change their thoughts or behaviors (or both), they can respond differently to the situations that cause them anxiety. “Studies show that these treatments can ease symptoms for up to a year and help reduce the need for medication,” says Farchione. Relaxation techniques Some treatment programs use relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, meditation, or yoga on people with GAD to help them better cope with the stresses that can add to anxiety. Relaxation also helps ease GAD symptoms. Medication According to Farchione, doctors commonly use three classes of medications to treat GAD: benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and Effexor), and azaspirones (BuSpar). If you’re being treated for GAD with a medication that doesn’t seem to be working, you and your doctor should keep trying. There are lots of different medications you may be able to use, and pharmaceutical companies develop new ones all the time. Do You Have GAD?If your anxiety is associated with at least three of the following symptoms more days than not for at least 6 months, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional (a psychiatrist or psychologist) about GAD or other potential causes: restlessness (feeling keyed up or on edge) difficulty sleeping (falling asleep, staying asleep, or restless or unsatisfying sleep), muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or being easily fatigued. More from Prevention: 22 Ways To Calm Down
