4 Signs You Might Have Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD] is one of five major types of anxiety, and it affects 3.1% of the US population, or a whopping 6.8 million adults. Compared to men, women are twice as likely to be affected by this condition, and it typically occurs in patients with existing depression.
The four signs that you might have anxiety disorder include problems with concentrating, unexplained restlessness or feelings of being “edgy,” frequent and increasing irritability or crankiness, and muscle soreness, aches, or tensions. They are in addition to the existing problems pertaining to constant worrying, perceptions, fatigue, and sleep.
We’ll discuss these common signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder along with its common causes, treatments, and healthy coping mechanisms in this blog. Keep reading to find all the information regarding GAD and what you can do to curb its symptoms.
What Are the 4 Signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
GAD is often described as a mental illness that creates a sense of uncontrollable worry and anxiety that often forces mental illness patients to perceive their problems as more significant than they are in real life. The constant worrying can also often lead to constant fatigue or tiredness that can be triggered relatively more easily.
In some extreme cases, those with Generalized Anxiety Disorder might also suffer from muscle tensions or soreness and muscle aches. In addition to these common Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms, you might also face the following issues:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Makes Concentrating More Challenging
People with GAD often deal with unwarranted anxiety and worries that occupy most of their thoughts throughout the day. Since these thoughts grab most of their attention and concern, focusing on the task at hand becomes a daunting challenge.
2. You Might Feel Restless or Edgy
GAD leads to anxiety and worries that can last for months, if not years. Consequently, those who have this mental disease often have to cope with unexplained feelings of restlessness or edginess. The feeling is described by patients as an uncontrollable and uncomfortable urge to move or act.
3. GAD Leads to Increasing Crankiness and Irritability
The overwhelming worry in GAD patients depletes their energy, which makes it difficult for them to ignore or shrug off things they usually can or should. Consequently, increasing and extreme irritability and crankiness are one of the arousal symptoms of this mental disease.
4. Your Muscles Ache, Tension, or Become Sore for No Apparent Reason
Unlike moderate anxiety, stress, or worry, patients with clinically-diagnosed GAD can’t go back to a relaxed state when their stress has passed. This inability to relax causes muscle tension, aches, and soreness, specifically in the shoulders and neck areas, and can also lead to chronic pain.
What Are the Common Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be caused due to both genetic and environmental factors. Some of the most common causes of this illness include a family history of anxiety, exposure to prolonged or recent stress-inducing circumstances, and childhood trauma pertaining to bullying or abuse.
In addition to the causes mentioned above, those who indulge in activities involving excessive intake of caffeine or tobacco or have an existing health condition, such as heart arrhythmias or thyroid issues, are also exposed to risks of developing GAD.
Areas of the brain that control anxiety and fear are involved in this mental health concern and can be a consequence of substance abuse or particular medication. However, in terms of genetic GAD, some research also suggests that the primary cause of GAD cannot be ascertained.
Both Anxiety and Depression and their underlying mental health concerns are often linked with technology and, in particular, the use of social media. According to the most recent stats, more than half of the online users have an account on more than one social media site, and an astonishingly high majority visits at least one social media site several times a day.
In the next section, we’ll discuss the effects of technology on Generalized Anxiety Disorder and what can be done to introduce Technology Mindfulness in your daily life.
How Does Technology Cause Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
According to Bentley University Professor Greg Hall, technology is changing at such a rapid pace that it gives us little to no time to adapt to these changes. As a consequence, most individuals in modern times are anxiety-ridden. He also explains that this inability to adapt to constantly evolving technology can affect an individual’s sense of self.
Let’s take a look at some other effects of technology on our mental health and how it can cause Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
1. It Decreases Our Attention Span
Research conducted on academic performance and multitasking showed that with the increased incorporation of the latter, individuals risk decreasing their attention span. No matter how much you try convincing yourself or others that you can complete your work and use social media simultaneously, that’s just not how the brain works.
The decreased attention span that results in poor performance can trigger anxiety and instill deep-rooted fears in individuals that can further advance into Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
2. Decreases the Quality of Social Development
Lack of social development and the absence of practical social skills can lead to individuals feeling uncomfortable and anxious in public. These individuals find solace in the comfort of their own homes, isolated from the rest of the world.
Today’s evolving technology supports such isolation through digital communication. Individuals use technology to a point where they might be texting each other while in the same room. As a result, more and more adults today fall under the GAD spectrum.
3. Our Patience Level Goes Down
The digital world has made it easier for online users to get what they want instantaneously. This change has made us intolerable to slow results or anything less than expected. The increased expectations are often met with unsatisfactory results and thus become a cause for anxiety and worry.
The need for rapid actions and results is not only limited to students and professionals but also affects business owners who expect their employees to work at the speed of light and produce unattainable results in the smallest amount of time.
4. Our Sense of Reality Becomes Skewed
People only showcase their best circumstances on social media, and nobody ever shares their daily struggles and battles. The biased sharing of information on technological platforms often changes our perception of life.
As a consequence, individuals often compare their lives, achievements, and milestones with others and create a poor sense of self, which can ultimately lead to GAD.
5. We Are Exposed to Harassment and Bullying
Thanks to the anonymity offered through digital platforms, people are not only subjected to bullying and harassment as a child but also face such societal issues on social media almost daily. Consequently, the trauma caused by such bullying and harassment can lead to stress and anxiety.
According to Pew Research Center, 40% of online adults have dealt with some form of online harassment and bullying. Meaning almost 40% of adults online are exposed to risks pertaining to the development of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
6. TMI
With the plethora of information readily available through digital platforms, individuals’ ability to extract valuable, knowledgeable pieces through the process of synthesis and analysis is adversely affected. While social media is often used to share TMI on personal matters and opinions, the sources can’t be trusted for news-related or research-based information.
The unnecessary information we come across on a daily basis can affect how our brain functions when we’re required to complete a task or perform well in an office setting. For this reason, technology mindfulness is crucial when working or studying.
7. The Decreased Shelf Life of Knowledge
Our knowledge’s shelf life has become short-lived because of digital technology. Several employees and even students feel incompetent amongst peers who might know about a specific technological advancement that they’re still not accustomed to.
This feeling of inferiority can be linked with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and become a cause of this severe mental illness.
How Can I Get Diagnosed for GAD?
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms occur almost every day and generally last for six months or longer. However, to get diagnosed, you will need to book an appointment with a mental health professional or a healthcare provider who can evaluate your condition and conclude whether you have GAD or not.
Even if you’re diagnosed with GAD, this should not be a cause for worry as several Generalized Anxiety Disorder treatments can be applied to help you cope with and curb the symptoms, if not get rid of the mental illness entirely.
What Is the Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Depending on the severity of your symptoms and the time that you can dedicate to Generalized Anxiety Disorder treatment, your healthcare provider might suggest working with a therapist, relaxation techniques, medicine, lifestyle changes, or counseling sessions.
Medication for Generalized Anxiety Disorder might include antidepressants and other strong Generalized Anxiety Disorder Medication that you might need to take for a long time, if not the rest of your life.
For this reason, most healthcare providers will suggest that you start with Psychotherapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [CBT] sessions to evaluate whether either of the two can curb the need for medication. The following are some standard CBT methods your therapist might use:
1. Functional Analysis
Functional Analysis is used to determine when, how, and why a patient’s anxiety is triggered and is used to evaluate the mental processing of the concerned individuals. You will be given a chance to co-assess the circumstances and your reactions to a specific situation.
The walk-through of a past situation and assessing several other healthy alternatives to a reaction is therapeutic on their own and can be performed at home as well.
2. The Behavioral and Emotional Approach
Through the behavioral and emotional approach, your therapist will teach you how to create positive feelings and emotions to drive the focus away from the negative ones. Through this technique, you will also learn to control the symptoms of GAD.
This approach helps patients with GAD create healthier, more positive habits to curb their symptoms and draw their attention away from negative thoughts, anxiety, and fears.
3. Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is related to understanding the disease and its causes to become more self-aware. It also involves considering the latest advancements in CBT methods to make the patient more willing to change.
Once a person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder becomes more self-aware, they can be more in control of their emotions and learn how to cope and react under varying circumstances.
4. The Cognitive Approach
The cognitive approach aims to help patients isolate their thoughts from emotions. Furthermore, it helps patients create a more objective approach to their thoughts in order to make them less overpowering and draw attention away from negative thoughts that cause anxiety.
The over-exaggeration of danger and over-generalization can be decreased with the help of the cognitive approach. When working with a therapist, you will be offered alternatives to avoid such over-exaggeration of dangers and risks.
Concluding Remarks
One of the many reasons why the working class often faces mental health concerns such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder is because they are often overworked and stressed due to a bucketload of work that often leads to poor health, loss of time, and, ultimately, the loss of joy.
At Humans First, we have worked with various companies and their employees over a period of several years. We found that, in most cases, poor technology hygiene is a leading cause of anxiety for most working adults.
With our help, these employees integrated technology mindfulness into their work ethics, created a transformed standard of wellness, and enhanced their work efficiency and effectiveness. As a result, they worked only four days a week and still got their job done right on time.
Needless to say, the improved quality of work and the appreciated work-life balance lowered their risk of developing life-altering mental diseases such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Get in touch with our team now to learn how we can help you, or click here to read more about our process.
