Introduction
As stated in part 1, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can be found in the DSM V and has criteria that one must meet in order to be clinically diagnosed with this disorder. However, what about those individuals who still have anxiety and constant worrying, but don’t meet the exact DSM V criteria? Should they not receive treatment or medication if needed? Another question to examine is does diagnosis matter? Also, How does it affect one’s life and is there any stigmas? What are some causes of GAD, if there are any? Are there any barriers or to treatment? These are some questions that will be critically analyzed and explored.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
In order to be diagnosed with GAD according to the DSM V an individual must meet certain criteria. The criteria goes as follows: A. The individual has to have excessive worrying and anxiety that happens most of the time and in more than one setting. B. The individual has difficulty with controlling their worry or anxiety. C. The worry and anxiety that the individual possesses has to meet three of the six symptoms listed and the symptoms have to happen most of the time: 1. Feeling on edge or restless 2. Feeling tired
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There may be different explanations such as behavioral, cognitive, genetic, environmental, developmental or other factors. As far as the brain is concerned, “it appears that emotional memories stored in the central part of the amygdala may play a role in disorders involving very distinct fears, like phobias, while different parts may be involved in other forms of anxiety. By learning more about brain circuitry involved in fear and anxiety, scientists may be able to devise new and more specific treatments for anxiety disorders” (Weil, 2016). The brain is a very complex thing and there is still so much to be explored and that we don’t know about it