What Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Is and Its Progression In Me
What Generalized Anxiety Disorder Is
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of my diagnoses. Quite frankly, the words “Generalized Anxiety Disorder” sound quite wimpy in comparison to the immensity of suffering it has created.
DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
Excessive anxiety and worry at least 50 percent of days about a number of events or activities (family, health, finances, work, and school)
The person finds it hard to control the worry
The worry is sustained for at least 6 months
The anxiety and worry are associated with at least three (or one in children) of the following:
restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
easily fatigued
difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
irritability
muscle tension
sleep disturbances
Source: (Abnormal Psychology: Twelfth Edition - DSM 5 update, Kring, Johnson, Davison, Neale, copyright 2014, pg. 179)
My Experience With the Progression of GAD
“Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) typically begins in adolescence, though many people who have GAD report having had a tendency to worry all their lives.”
Source: (Abnormal Psychology: Twelfth Edition - DSM 5 update, Kring, Johnson, Davison, Neale, copyright 2014, pg. 179)
I can remember worry being a consistent part of my thought processes and body from a very young age. My worries were obsessive. My body felt fearful and stressed. These thoughts and feelings increased once entering adolescence and only grew from there.
I worried about my hair sticking up and not looking right.
I worried about being perfect in school. Even getting one question wrong meant I was dumb.
I worried about sports. I was fearful of making mistakes and not being good enough.
I had a great family and home life. My worry pushed me to work hard and excel in school and sports. I believe these factors hid the danger the constant worry was slowly creating.
My family and I noticed anxiety was affecting me once I was 16 and a junior in high school. I sought mental health therapy at a Christian therapy clinic. I found some benefit, but creating time for appointments amidst my busy high school schedule became an extra stressor. I didn’t go to therapy long.
Once I moved from my family and entered college in 2012, my mental health became unlivable and I was highly suicidal. At this time, I was formally diagnosed with GAD. I’ve been in treatment ever since. This is just a very quick look at what GAD is and its progression in me.