Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. People become anxious when they have to face a highly stressful situation like taking a test or going for a job interview. When one is anxious and under stress, the body reacts; hands become clammy, the heart beats a little faster; one can even feel lightheaded or dizzy. This is a natural, and necessary, “fight or flight” reaction! Anxiety in moderate doses is perfectly healthy. Worry can even be a good; it can motivate you to get things done or keep you out of danger.

However, some people become preoccupied with fear and worry, and the intense feelings of anxiety continue. If the anxiety continues for a long period of time, or is particularly intense, it may have a serious negative impact on that person’s quality of life. If this is the case, the person may have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety is the most common mental health issue experienced by young people today. Anxiety disorders describe a wide range of issues and symptoms, and each person may experience anxiety differently.

People with generalized anxiety disorder typically experience anxiety more frequently and severely than the average person and it can last for hours or days, even when nothing seems to be causing it. The amount of time spent worrying is often out of proportion to the events being worried about, or the likelihood those events will happen at all. The worrying can affect a person’s ability to function in important areas of life like work, home, school and personal relationships. 

Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a person has experienced symptoms of persistent and excessive worry for an extended period of time.

The following list should not be used to diagnose yourself or someone else. It is only intended to provide general information. If you think you might be experiencing a mental illness, you should see your doctor.

These symptoms might not be present all the time, and two people with generalized anxiety may experience it in very different ways.

That being said, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder tend to:

• Anticipate disaster everywhere and worry excessively about major or minor concerns.
• Experience anxiety almost all of the time, and without a specific trigger.
• Have a feeling of dread that they just can’t seem to get rid of.
• Always be thinking about the “what ifs” and fear the worst in every situation, even if it is unrealistic.
• Have difficulty completing even the simplest daily tasks due to overwhelming anxiety.
• Experience trouble concentrating, constant exhaustion, and trouble relaxing or falling or staying asleep.
• Feel restless or wound up.
• Experience a lot of physical symptoms that are related to the worry, such as upset stomach, shaking, sweating, or rapid rate and breathing.
• Feel easily annoyed or irritated.
• Feel powerless.
• Avoid things, people, activities, or places they are worried about.

Notice that although anxiety begins psychologically, it can also affect you mentally and physically, too. Anxiety affects the whole person, in many aspects of their life.

It's a good idea for someone with generalized anxiety disorder to get help to cope and deal with symptoms. Otherwise their physical, mental and emotional health may be in jeopardy. Anxiety disorders can also lead to alcohol and/or drug abuse, family problems, depression, and in some cases, suicide.

Generalized anxiety disorder and agoraphobia: Some people who experience anxiety disorders can develop other complications. A person who experiences panic attacks or generalized anxiety might become so worried about their anxiety being triggered that they begin to avoid people, places or situations, to the point where it interferes with their ability to live their life. This avoidance can develop into agoraphobia, which is the extreme fear and avoidance of crowded spaces or enclosed public places that may lead you to panic and feel trapped.

Like other mental health issues, generalized anxiety disorder and how it is experienced will differ from person to person. Because each case is unique, the treatment will likely be different for each individual.

A good first step is to see your family doctor in order to rule out the possibility of any other medical condition that may be the cause. If they think you might have an anxiety disorder, they may refer you to a specialist or talk to you about how they can help or treat your symptoms.

The most common forms of treatment for anxiety disorders include medication, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or a combination of the two. During cognitive behavioral therapy, you will learn coping strategies and ways to work through and understand harmful thoughts, feelings and behaviours with the help of a counsellor or therapist.

Medication can also be helpful to help stabilize someone enough to get the most out of therapy, counselling and living life. Every person is different, so if medication is used, it may take a while to find the medication that works best for you.

Sometimes spending time in a treatment clinic or hospital is necessary, while for others, outpatient (getting help from a professional without having to actually “stay over” in a hospital) is better.

If you have to wait to get an appointment, there are many places that offer support while you wait. Find out where to call in your area.

Along with treatment from your doctor or therapist, there are things you can do to help and support your own recovery.

Every story is different, and sometimes people need to try different types of supports before they find the right plan for them. Be patient, and don’t give up.

A person living with anxiety, like any other person, will benefit from maintaining wellness and having good supports in their life. 

• Michael’s story about what it’s like to have generalized anxiety disorder
• MonSTRESSity is a digital tool that talks about how to cope with stress/anxiety while in your home, classroom or out in public
• A list of wellness tips focused on how to cope with anxiety