Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Guide for Teens
- B Allison, J Hamilton, Q Hines, T Kuzu, M Mazaher, J Navarro
- Apr 12, 2024
- 3 min read
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Guide for Teens
Do you feel like you worry about anything and everything? Unfortunately, too many people suffer in silence. This guide is meant for teens, but people of all ages could benefit from talking more about Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). We will start by defining GAD, going over symptoms, and risk factors, and reviewing some treatment options.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
GAD is when someone has excessive and uncontrollable worry, about a variety of things,that lasts for at least six months (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). It can interfere with day-to-day life. It usually starts in adolescence, or early adulthood, and can continue if left untreated (Andrews et al., 2010).
Life Impact
(Roemer & Orsillo, 2012)
Always feeling anxious is not a fun time and can impact someone’s life in many ways. People with GAD may have relationship difficulties because of excessive worrying. GAD can also interfere with school or part-time work responsibilities. Some people with GAD even worry about being worried! Ignoring the symptoms can lead to more distress. By seeking treatment, individuals can improve their overall well-being.
Examples of Symptoms
(American Psychiatric Association, 2022)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder can disrupt a teen’s life both mentally and physically. The mental symptoms are:
● Excessive worrying
● Trouble focusing
● Poorer school performance
● Lack of sleep
Physical symptoms include:
● Shakiness
● Difficulty breathing
● Chest tightness
● Nausea
Risk Factors
(American Psychiatric Association, 2022)
GAD can be passed down through a family’s genes. It can also be triggered by life experiences, such as having a difficult home life. Women are more likely to have an anxiety disorder, so teen girls are particularly at risk.
Neural Basis
(Buff et al., 2016)
In everyone’s brain, there is a threat detector (the amygdala). In people with GAD, this part of the brain is overactive. This can lead to a constant state of anxiety, even when there is no true threat.
Treatment Options
(National Institute of Mental Health, 2022)
● Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Seeing a therapist one-on-one, or in a group
Learn strategies to manage anxiety in tough situations
Learn to reframe unhelpful thoughts
May have to practice, through “homework”
● Medication
Antidepressants, or anti-anxiety medication
Might have some side-effects
Takes a few weeks to start to work
No shame in taking it; no one has to know
● Lifestyle Changes
Get a good night’s sleep
Avoid caffeine
Exercise
Practice mindful, deep-breathing
Feeling overwhelmed? Remember, the first step is to see a doctor.
Closing
Worrying all the time sucks, but it is not a sign of weakness. GAD is manageable with a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and counseling. Lots of help is available and things will get better!
Call-to-Action
Have a personal experience with GAD or a suggestion for someone else? Help reduce the stigma by commenting below. Check out our other blog posts for more advice on maintaining mental wellness. Remember, managing GAD takes time. Looking forward to reading the comments!
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5-TR. https://doi-org.libaccess.senecapolytechnic.ca/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Andrews, G., Hobbs, M. J., Borkovec, T. D., Beesdo, K., Craske, M. G., Heimberg, R. G., Rapee, R. M., Ruscio, A. M., & Stanley, M. A. (2010). Generalized worry disorder: a review of DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder and options for DSM-V. Depression and Anxiety, 27(2), 134–147. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20658
Buff, C., Brinkmann, L., Neumeister, P., Feldker, K., Heitmann, C., Gathmann, B., & Andor, T. (2016). Specifically altered brain responses to threat in generalized anxiety disorder relative to social anxiety disorder and panic disorder. NeuroImage: Clinical, 12, 698-706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2016.09.023
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Generalized anxiety disorder: When worry gets out of control. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
Roemer, L., & Orsillo, S. M. (2002). Expanding our conceptualization of and treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: Integrating mindfulness/acceptance-based approaches with existing cognitive-behavioral models. Clinical Psychology (New York, N.Y.), 9(1), 54–68. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.9.1.54
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