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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves a
long standing worry about several types of life
circumstances. The worry is recurrent, intruding,
involves an experience of lost control over the
worry, and leads to suffering and difficulties in
functioning at work and in ones private life. The
content of the worry is about imagined future
catastrophic events of various kinds (for example,
a close relative will die in a car accident, one is
going to lose a job). The purpose of the worry is
to solve problems or to make sure that one avoids
strenuous situations and negative feelings. GAD is
also characterized by a fear of imagined
consequences of the worry itself (for example, that
the worry and the anxiety will lead to a loss of
control, madness, mocking or dislike by
others). The world is often perceived as dangerous
due to the belief that one is not going to be able
to handle difficult situations. Therefore, a
continuous effort is made to be vigilant in order
to predict future possible threats. Worries about
social relationships are expressed for example
through a fear of conflicts with others,
exaggerated caring, and difficulties in asserting
oneself.
Worry is primarily a verbal and linguistic
behavior. Research indicates that worry is a type
of avoidance. Worry diminishes physical reactions
that are usually related to severe anxiety. This
leads to relief that reinforces the anxiety. The
downside to this is that it prevents an emotional
processing and a cognitive processing of the fear
and the worry. In addition, the worry is focused at
future events and not the present. Because people
with GAD often worry about events that seldom
occur, at the same time as they think that the
worry prevents these events, the view is
strengthened that worry has this function. The
illusion that one can control future events
strengthens the worry behavior. Worry can be
triggered by outside events (i.e., tragic news), or
imaginal memories, bodily reactions etc. Few who
suffer from GAD seeks help for the worry. Instead,
they seek help from doctors due to the consequences
of the worry (i.e., muscle tension, sleep
difficulties, concentration problems, restlessness,
irritability etc.).
© Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) specialist in
Stockholm, 2005-2008, www.kbterapi.se
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