In a client diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, what behavior is primarily expected?

In clients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the primary behavior that is expected is excessive worrying about various potential dangers or negative outcomes. This chronic tendency to worry often spans a wide range of concerns, including health, finances, relationships, and everyday situations. Individuals with GAD typically find it difficult to control this worry and may recognize that their anxiety is out of proportion to the actual circumstances, yet they struggle to alleviate it.

The nature of GAD involves persistent anxiety that can lead to a significant emotional and functional burden in the individual’s life. This excessive worrying can interfere with daily activities and often includes physical symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

Other behaviors mentioned in the other choices relate to different anxiety disorders or stress reactions; for instance, flashbacks are typical in post-traumatic stress disorder, avoidance behavior may be linked to specific phobias, and panic attacks are more commonly associated with panic disorder. Thus, the behavior of excessive worrying aligns closely with the diagnostic criteria and presentation of generalized anxiety disorder.