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Generalized Anxiety Disorder Case Study Essay

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Susan has displayed excessive worrying for more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of activities, including work. Her symptoms have been present for the past 9 months and thus qualify for a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Susan has excessive worrying surrounding her "lapses in concentration and memory", all of which are out of proportion to the actual likelihood or impact of the feared event that she fails as a bank manager. Susan also said that since high school, "she has been in a state of anxiety and worry about 75% of her waking hours and she almost never experienced worry-free days". This is a criterion for the diagnosis of GAD as Susan has experienced this anxiety and worry for more days than not for an excessive amount of time.
Another symptom of GAD is that the person finds it difficult to control the worry. All of these worries are excessive and build off of each …show more content…

Susan explained that her anxiety and worry has affected "her job performance, her children's well-being, and her relationships with men…, getting to appointments on time, keeping her house clean, and maintaining regular contact with family and friends". Susan has qualified for this criterion as all of these impairments and distress in Susan's life continue to negatively impact her well-being. At work, her supervisor suggested that she take some vacation time to relax and "get her head together" and as a result, Susan became very upset and obsessed over this setback. She has difficulties concentrating which has affected her work life and job performance. Susan arrives to work "30 minutes early every day" so that she can control the future of her day as much as possible. This shows a breakdown of distress and impairment in her occupational area of

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