Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

This leaflet will help you know about Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), its types, symptoms and treatment.

Though pregnancy and childbirth can be an exciting period, it can also be a difficult time for some women. This is because women experience many changes; physically, hormonally, and emotionally to prepare them for the arrival of their baby.

The combination of these changes, along with genetics, and stress from the environment can cause anxiety.

Worrying about things like family, health or money problems is a normal part of life to some extent, but people who are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) start to feel extremely worried about little things that sometimes should not cause any worry at all.

This feeling makes it difficult for them to live life the way they need or wish to.

For those with GAD, the trigger is typically uncertainty. Because pregnancy and childbirth are frequently accompanied by uncertainty, this is a time when people with GAD worry a lot.

  1. Worries about current problems like feeding the baby on time, paying the bills, and how to cope with the baby, work, and family responsibilities.
  2. Worries about things that have not yet happened but could happen, like your baby falling ill.

One difference between the two is the amount of control we have over the situation. We usually have direct control over our current problems. However, we have little to no control over the problems that might occur in future, like your baby catching the flu.

An important part of managing anxiety is understanding the type of worry that is causing the problem.

  • The baby’s health and well-being
  • Being a good mother
  • A painful or stressful delivery
  • The well-being of other loved ones
  • Responsibilities and chores

  • Worry very much about every day activities
  • Find it difficult to control those worries
  • Know that they are worrying for little or no reason
  • Feel worried quite easily
  • Have issues with sleep due to the worrying thoughts
  • Feel tired a lot
  • Have unexplainable pains

Symptoms can get worse or better at different times and get worse with stress.

It can be exhausting dealing with anxiety. The good news Is that GAD is treatable!

  • Psychotherapy (talking therapy).
  • CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) a form of therapy that can help you change your way of thinking and behavior. This can help you see things from different perceptions. It can also help you identify what is helpful and working for you and what is not.

Doctors sometimes prescribe medication to reduce symptoms in combination with psychotherapy (talking therapy). Your doctor will work with you to find the best medication for your needs.

For questions or concerns, you can reach out to Perinatal Mental Health Services – Women’s Wellbeing Clinic:

Email: WMHnurses@sidra.org
Clinic phone numbers: +97440037109; +97440037177; +97470675153

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