PAGE CONTENTS
(1) What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
(2) Authoritative online information
(3) Recommended books
(1) What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
The diagnostic manual for mental health used by health professionals is known as the DSM-5. The DSM-5 criteria for GAD is met when a person experiences the following:
(A) Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
(B) The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.
(C) The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms having been present for more days than not for the past 6 months): (1) Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge; (2) Being easily fatigued; (3) Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank; (4) Irritability; (5) Muscle tension; (6) Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep).
(D) The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
(E) The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of substance use or another medical condition.
(F) The disturbance is not attributable to another medical condition.
(1) Authoritative online information
(2) Recommended books
Robichaud, M., & Dugas, M. J. (2015). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder workbook: A comprehensive CBT guide for coping with uncertainty, worry, and fear. New Harbinger. [Amazon]
Saulsman, L., Nathan, P., Lim, L., Correia, H., Anderson, R., & Campbell, B. (2015). What? Me Worry?! - Mastering Your Worries. This is a free workbook that is available online from the Centre for Clinical Interventions.
Carbonell, D. A. (2016). The worry trick: How your brain tricks you into expecting the worst and what you can do about it. New Harbinger. [Amazon]
Forsyth, J. P., & Eifert, G. H. (2016). The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for anxiety: A guide to breaking free from anxiety, phobias, and worry using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. New Harbinger. [Amazon] [New Harbinger - Free Accessories] [John P. Forsyth, PhD]
Gyoerkoe, K. L., & Wiegartz, P. S. (2006). 10 simple solutions to worry: How to calm your mind, relax your body, and reclaim your life. [Amazon]
Leahy, Robert L. (2005). The worry cure: Seven steps to stop worry from stopping you. Harmony. [Amazon]
LeJeune, Chad. (2007). The worry trap: How to Free Yourself from Worry & Anxiety using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. New Harbinger. [Amazon]
Orsillo, Susan M., Lizabeth Roemer, & Zindel V. Segal. (2011). The mindful way through anxiety: Break free from chronic worry and reclaim your life. The book has an accompanying website. [Amazon]
Robichaud, M., & Buhr, K. (2018). The worry workbook: CBT skills to overcome worry and anxiety by facing the fear of uncertainty. New Harbinger. [Amazon]
Shapiro, Lawrence. (2020). Don't let your worries run your life: Therapeutic Assignments to Help You Overcome Your Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Available for free online at: http://adrian.edu/uploads/files/Anxiety_Workbook_Fillable.pdf