Main Characteristics of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Good evening, my name is ________, and tonight I will be talking about Generalized Anxiety Disorder in adolescents (GAD). According the the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), GAD can be defined as excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities. Those with GAD will associate three or more of the following six symptoms with the anxiety and worry: restlessness or feeling on edge, easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. In order to determine that the patient’s excessive worry is in fact GAD, he or she must experience some of the symptoms for more days than not within the past six months. Within the younger population, Generalized Anxiety Disorder usually develops around the age of 12. However, it can develop during any time of someone’s life. GAD tends to affect females more than males, with two out of every three children/ adolescents being females. Without proper treatment and medication, one will most likely regress, therefore it is important to seek professional help if an adolescent is experiencing any of the symptoms previously stated.

When an adolescent seeks help, there are two paths to follow. Depending on the professional, one will be prescribed medication, one will endure different therapies, or both. It is most likely that the psychologist or psychiatrist will begin with therapy. Since the patient is an adolescent, it’s best to stay away from medication unless in an extreme case. If the patient is one of those extreme cases, or is not improving with therapy, than he or she will be prescribed medication. There is a variety of medications available for patients with GAD, but tonight I will only discuss three. One of the most popular drugs is Buspar Buspirone. Buspirone is specifically and anti-anxiety drug that will take some of the edge off, but won’t completely rid the patient of anxiety. It is most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, such as GAD, and depressive disorders. Side effects could include: headache, lightheadedness, nervousness, or sudden excitement. Buspirone is most preferred because it does not tend to leave the patient addicted. Another drug that can be prescribed is called Alprazolam, or more commonly known as Xanax. Xanax is used to treat anxiety, agoraphobia, panic disorders, and depressive disorders. However, it can leave consumers physically and psychologically dependent on the drug after only a few weeks. Side effects of Alprazolam could be: a change in appetite or weight, lightheadedness, nervousness, or constipation. The last medication I will be discussing is Hydroxyzine. Hydroxyzine is a drug used to treat anxiety, allergies, itchy skin, withdrawal syndrome, and nausea. It can leave patients with headaches, dizziness, mouth dryness, and drowsiness. If one must take a medication, he or she should try Buspirone first.

If the adolescent with GAD is determined to feel better and is willing to put in effort, he or she will go through therapy. The most common type of therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT uses five different methods in order to help the patient improve. The first step is education. The therapist educates the patient on their disorder helps to determine the difference between helpful and unhelpful worry. The second step is Monitoring. Monitoring helps the patient to understand what specific situations trigger the anxiety and worry, and figures out about how long each episode lasts. Physical Control Strategies is the third step. During this, patients will work on deep breathing and muscle relaxation strategies in an attempt to slow the heart rate down. Similar to Physical Control Strategies, the fourth step is Cognitive Control Strategies. Cognitive Control Strategies focuses on the mental process of the patient during episodes. The therapist will work on teaching the patient how to think differently in order to prevent episodes. They will also test his or her fears and worries. The last step is Behavioral Strategies. This step is where the patient learns to conquer his or her fears and learns to gain control over thoughts and reactions.

Although CBT is most common, a therapist could try Exposure Therapy. Exposure Therapy is exactly what it sounds like. The patient will be exposed to his or her fears and worries in an attempt to find control. This is done gradually and in steps. Once the patient is comfortable with the thought of their fear, he or she will face it progressively more until the fear is ultimately controlled. This can be done by imagining scenarios, or physically attending to their fears and worries. The last type of therapy is Complementary Therapies. These include: Exercise, Relaxation Techniques, and Hypnosis. Doctors have found that exercising for 30 minutes, three to five times a week, can decrease GAD episodes. Exercise can help relieve tension and stress, boost physical and mental energy, and enhance well-being through the release of endorphins. It is also suggested to avoid caffeine because it will raise heart rates and blood pressure. Relaxation techniques help to slow down the mind and heart rate using meditation, muscle relaxation and controlled breathing. Lastly, hypnosis helps the patient see their fears with a new attitude by lightly speaking during a state of deep relaxation. All three therapies can be effective depending on the person and his or her desire to improve.

Adolescence is a stressful period of life in general, having Generalized Anxiety Disorder makes it even worse. During this period of life, most teens search for acceptance from their peers, their family, and themselves. An adolescent with GAD will worry ten times more than the average teen. GAD causes a great amount of psychological impact on not only the individual, but his or her peers, and family. An individual could be invited to their first high school party. The average teen will worry about their outfit and who to carpool with. However, someone with GAD might worry nonstop from the second they are invited, to a week after the party. First they could worry about their appearance, the way he or she is walking, if he or she is talking too much, too little, even the way she or he is standing. The anxiety will take over this individuals mind, making the party stressful instead of fun. This person will most likely want to leave after only being at the party for a short time, and then will avoid conversations about the party the next couple days. In the future, this person might avoid parties as well. An adolescent can also place psychological impact on his or her friends and family. One day this person might feel wonderful and act extroverted, whereas another day, he or she might be introverted, not wanting to talk to anyone. This could leave the people around them wondering if they had done wrong, and could feel bad for the individual. GAD affects not only the patient, but the people around them as well.

Through my research I have learned a lot about Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It is defined as excessive fear and worry, with six common symptoms. GAD can be cured with either medication, therapy, or both. Some medications being: Buspirone (most popular), Alprazolam (Xanax), and Hydroxyzine. The most popular therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but Exposure Therapy, and Complementary Therapies can also be helpful in treating GAD. Lastly, I have learned that GAD has psychological impacts to the individual, amplifying certain fears, but also impacts their friends and families. If an adolescent or anyone is experiencing three or more of the six symptoms more frequently than not, please urge them to get to help. Thank you for your time.