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Do You Worry Too Much?

Everybody worries sometimes. Spending time with friends and family members can sometimes help take your mind off worries that come and go.

But worrying too much could mean you have an illness called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Symptoms of Anxiety

How much worrying is too much? You worry too much if you feel worried almost all the time and your worries keep you from working or enjoying life. You worry too much if you have been worried for at least six months. And you worry too much if you also have some of these warning signs:

• You feel mad most of the time.
• You always expect the worst.
• Your body hurts when nothing is wrong.
• You cannot relax.
• You feel short of breath for no reason.
• You feel like your heart is pounding.
• You have trouble thinking.
• You find it hard to sleep.
• You get hot flashes and feel sweaty.
• You need to throw up when you worry.
• You have to go to the bathroom a lot.

If you have GAD, you’re not alone. This common illness can start when you are a child, a teenager, or an adult. Women get GAD more often than men, and it can run in families.

See Your Doctor

If you think you have GAD, talk to your doctor. Treatment for GAD helps ease the worries. It can also help with other problems related to GAD, such as sleeplessness.

Medicine is one treatment. You may need to take medicine for about six months. It can also help to talk to a counselor. Therapy can teach you how to handle your worries.

GAD may go away and then come back again. But don’t worry about that, too. GAD can always be treated again.