Dr. K - Emotional Health Mentor

Maybe you've received a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, or you just want to know what it is. Well in this post, I'm going to walk you through the diagnostic criteria so you come away understanding what generalized anxiety disorder is… and what it isn't. And be sure to stick around until the end, as I'll share some insight into how lifestyle choices can positively impact mental health…and some words of encouragement.

Let's first define generalized anxiety disorder by its diagnostic criteria.

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).

Let's break that down. The term "excessive" in relation to anxiety and worry is subjective and certainly depends on life circumstances, but "excessive" is in comparison to what would be considered a normal response to those circumstances. This pattern must...