May 2 Is National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day

The month of May is overflowing with national health observances, and here at Lively Women, we’re going to talk about them! After all, how can you be lively if you’re not healthy?

If you often feel tense or worried about situations that don’t really warrant it, if you can’t shake anxious feelings even though you know that they’re not necessary or helpful, or if you feel anxious or worried most of the time, you may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, an illness that affects approximately 6.8 million American adults and is found more frequently in women than in men.

According to PsychCentral.com, for people with GAD,

the anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months; children don’t need to meet as many criteria).

• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)

Concerned that you may have GAD? Take this screening exam from the NYU Medical Center, and then take the results to your doctor. He or she will be able to guide you in the right direction for the diagnosis and treatment that will get you feeling better.

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King