Worrying All the Time? Everyday Worry vs Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Claire: Thanks for joining us. You're listening to Between Visits, sponsored by Hope Health Network, a network of medical practices serving South Carolina. We dig into the medical and mental health topics that matter most to patients and the public.

Claire: I'm Claire, and this is episode 68. I'm going to quickly play our disclaimers, and then we'll get started!

Recorded disclaimer: This show is for entertainment, education and general information only. It's not medical advice, and listening doesn't make you a patient. Our hosts and guests are not real people, medical doctors or healthcare providers. We do our best, but we can be wrong, and our content can have errors and omissions. Talk with a licensed medical provider in your state before you make any decisions about your health or medical care.

Claire: Joining me today is Liam, from our digital entertainment team. Today's topic is an important one: Worrying All the Time? Everyday Worry vs Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Claire: This can be a heavy subject. If it ever starts to feel like too much, at any point today, it's okay to step away. And help is always just a call away, any time, day or night. In an emergency, call 911. In a crisis, call or text 988.

Claire: Okay, Liam. Thanks for being here today.

Liam: Thanks, Claire. I'm glad we're talking about this.

Claire: Me too, Liam. Let's get started. Why does it matter?

Liam: NIMH says people with GAD find worry about ordinary matters, like health, money or work, hard to control on most days for at least 6 months.

Claire: How is everyday worry different from generalized anxiety disorder?

Liam: Everyday worry is tied to a specific problem, roughly matches its size and eases when the problem passes. Worry in generalized anxiety disorder jumps between topics, often feels bigger than the situation calls for and is hard to switch off on most days.

Claire: Thanks for explaining that.

Claire: How long does worry last in GAD?

Liam: The National Institute of Mental Health says people with GAD find their worry hard to control on most days for at least 6 months.

Claire: Thank you.

Claire: Who diagnoses generalized anxiety disorder?

Liam: Generalized anxiety disorder is a DSM-5-TR diagnosis, and a qualified clinician makes it. Part of a good evaluation is ruling out other explanations, such as a medical condition.

Claire: That's important to know.

Claire: Can generalized anxiety disorder cause physical symptoms?

Liam: Yes. Among the possible signs of GAD, NIMH lists headaches, muscle aches and stomachaches, trembling, heavy sweating, lightheadedness and trouble sleeping.

Claire: Thanks for explaining that.

Claire: Why might my provider check my thyroid or ask about caffeine?

Liam: Because so many signs of anxiety are physical, part of a good evaluation is making sure something else, such as a thyroid problem or too much caffeine, is not behind them.

Claire: Thank you.

Claire: Is a GAD-7 score a diagnosis?

Liam: No. Questionnaires such as the GAD-7 help measure how strong symptoms are and track change over time, but a score on its own is not a diagnosis.

Claire: That's important to know.

Claire: What can I write down before a first visit about worry?

Liam: Note what you worry about most days, how long it has gone on and how it affects sleep, work and focus. Hope Behavioral Medicine sees adults by telehealth anywhere in South Carolina and in person in West Ashley.

Claire: Thanks for explaining that.

Claire: So before we wrap up, Liam, if people remember just a few things from today, what should they be?

Liam: I'd start here. Everyday worry is usually tied to a specific problem and eases when the problem passes; GAD worry jumps between topics and is hard to switch off.

Claire: Okay, good. What else?

Liam: Then, I'd say this. NIMH describes people with GAD as worrying too much about ordinary matters, such as health, money or a job, on most days for at least 6 months.

Claire: Right. And one more?

Liam: And the last one. NIMH lists signs that reach beyond worry, including restlessness, irritability, trouble concentrating, poor sleep, headaches, muscle aches and stomachaches.

Claire: Thank you, Liam.

Liam: Thank you, Claire.

Claire: Between Visits comes from Hope Health Network Media and is sponsored by Hope Health Network. Today's episode is shared by Hope Behavioral Medicine. Its office is in West Ashley, in Charleston, and it offers telehealth visits across South Carolina.

Claire: One last reminder. This show is for entertainment, education and general information only. It's not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911. In a crisis, call or text 988.

Claire: You've been listening to episode 68 of Between Visits, Worrying All the Time? Everyday Worry vs Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Thanks for hanging out with us. See you next time!