Do you worry all the time?

Do the following symptoms bother you?

**I never stop worrying about things big and small.

**I have headaches and other aches and pains for no reason.

**I am tense a lot and have trouble relaxing.

**I have trouble keeping my mind on one thing.

**I get crabby or grouchy.

**I have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

**I sweat and have hot flashes.

**I sometimes have a lump in my throat or feel like I need to throw up when I am worried.

If you have read the above and have some of those symptoms, you may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a real illness. Though GAD is a real illness, GAD can be treated with medicine and therapy.

If you have GAD, you worry all the time about your family, health, or work, and even when there are no signs of trouble.

Sometimes you arent worried about anything special, but may feel tense and worried all day long about nothing. You may also have aches and pains for no reason and may feel tired a lot.

Everyone gets worried at times, but if you have GAD, you stay worried most of the time, fear the worst will happen, and cant relax.

When does it start and how long does it last?

Most often GAD starts when a person is still a child or when they become a teenager. It can start as an adult, too. More women seem to have GAD than men.

People with GAD may visit their doctor many times before they find out what their real illness is. They may ask their doctor to help them with the signs of GAD like headaches or trouble falling asleep, but dont seem to get help for the illness itself.

Am I the only one with this illness?

No. You are not alone. In any year, 4 million Americans have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)