Symptoms
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) Symptoms of Generalized anxiety disorder include:
Excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for at least six months, about a number of events or activities.
The anxiety and worry are associated with at least 3 of the following symptoms:
- restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
- being easily fatigued
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
- muscle tension
- sleep disturbance
Children or adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder often worry a lot about things such as future events, past behaviors, social acceptance, family matters, their personal abilities, and/or school performance. Unlike adults with generalized anxiety disorder, children and adolescent are often unaware that their anxiety is out of proportion to the situation. They often require reassurance from adults.
Some of the most commons symptoms of generalized Anxiety disoder in children and adolescents include:
- many worries about things before they happen
- many worries about friends, school, or activities
- constant thoughts and fears about safety of self and/or safety of parents
- refusing to go to school
- frequent stomach aches, headaches, or other physical complaints
- muscle aches or tension
- sleep disturbance
- excessive worry about sleeping away from home
- clingy behavior with family members
- feeling as though there is a lump in the throat
- fatigue
- lack of concentration
- being easily startled
- irritability
- inability to relax