In a booklet distributed by the National Institute of Mental Health, people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) were described to be “…very anxious about just getting through the day. They think things will always go badly” (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2007, p. 2). In addition to this, it was described by Barlow and Bufka (2005) as excessive worrying about certain things in life. Even though people with GAD are aware that they are worrying too much, they simply can not control it (Barlow & Bufka, 2005).
Some of the common symptoms of GAD are the following, as quoted from the NIMH (2007) booklet: a) Worry very much about everyday things for at least six months, even if there is little or no reason to worry about them; b) [Can not] control their constant worries; c) Know that they worry much more than they should; d) [Can not] relax; e) Have a hard time concentrating; f) Are easily startled; and g) Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep (p. 3).
There are also body symptoms which can be related to people with GAD and this list includes fatigue, headaches, muscle tension and aches, trouble with swallowing, trembling or twitching, irritability, sweating, nausea, falling out of breath, frequent bathroom use, and hot flashes (NIMH, 2007, p. 3). There are a lot of advantages given to people diagnosed to have GAD. In the US, medical services for this type of anxiety disorder is covered by most of the insurance plans, other social welfare services, and ladderized fees based on the income of the person (NIMH, 2007, p.
6). The government sees to it that they can have access to quality medical attention for a minimum or no charge, which means that they are given importance, too. In addition to this, people with GAD have a much-better chance of getting well or minimizing the symptoms of the illness through the support groups available in the society (NIMH, n. d. , p. 20). These support groups include the family, relatives, and friends. The family, as the basic social institution, is at the forefront in seeking and contributing assistance to people with GAD.
It is very important that there are these support groups in the society which can help people with GAD. The mere fact that there is someone to talk to already helps. Moreover, the reach of people with GAD becomes wider, thanks to the advancements in technology. In a world where almost anything has become possible with communication enhancements and advancements, there are a lot more people to communicate with in order to seek help. One such example where people can look for someone to talk to is the Internet (NIMH, n. d. , p. 20).
On the other hand, there are also disadvantages that are posed for people with GAD. First, people with GAD often visit their doctors when they feel the symptoms of the disease but are not diagnosed immediately because the doctors wanted to be sure that it is not something else (NIMH, 2007, p. 4). Sometimes, the patient themselves do not know that they have a mental illness that needs to be treated immediately. These are results of lack of awareness of such mental illness.
Second, the world nowadays has become a fast-paced one. People with GAD may not be able to handle well all the stress that is in everyday life. These are among the advantages and disadvantages for people with GAD as they interact with the society they live in. It is very important to take note of both to make sure that it does not impede or, on the other hand, contribute to the wellness of the patient.
References
Barlow, D. H. & Bufka, L. F. (2005). Anxiety. In Microsoft® Encarta® 2006 [CD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. National Institute of Mental Health. (2007). When worry gets out of control: Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved January 5, 2008, from http://www. nimh. nih. gov/health/publications/nimh_generalizedanxietydisorder. pdf. National Institute of Mental Health. (n. d. ). Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved January 6, 2008, from http://www. nimh. nih. gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/nimhanxiety. pdf.