Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a type of anxiety disorder that is characterised by a constant and overwhelming anxiety about a wide range of life aspects that considerably disrupts day-to-day functioning.
Some common symptoms of GAD include:
GAD Physiological symptoms:
- Bladder urgency
- Blurred vision
- Breathlessness
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Irritable bowel
- Jelly legs
- Light headiness
- Muscle tension
- Nausea
- Palpitations
- Sleep difficulties
- Stomach churning
- Tension headaches
- Tunnel vision
GAD Psychological symptoms:
- A sense of dread
- Blank mind
- Depersonalisation
- Derealisation
- Dissociation
- Feeling on edge and tense
- Feeling numb
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Foggy thoughts
- Hallucination
- Intrusive, worrisome thoughts
- Irritability
- Racing thoughts
When to seek help
If you are experiencing most of the above symptoms you might be suffering from GAD. The symptoms can be overwhelming and affect considerably your emotional health and your day-to-day functioning. Therapy / counselling can be beneficial and help you to deal effectively with symptoms of GAD.
Dr Maria Pournara, Chartered Psychologist, offers therapy / counselling for GAD online.