can u not

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Apr 3
False!
People do both of those things for a variety of reasons. People with anxiety do sometimes do these things, but plenty do not! Plenty of people who do not have anxiety disorders also do them. It’s a small and moderatey inconsequential act and...

False!

People do both of those things for a variety of reasons. People with anxiety do sometimes do these things, but plenty do not! Plenty of people who do not have anxiety disorders also do them. It’s a small and moderatey inconsequential act and cannot be used to diagnose a forming anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is defined as the following from the DSM IV(source):

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 person 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 present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children. 

(1) restlessness or 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 focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a Panic Attack (as in Panic Disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in Social Phobia), being contaminated (as in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in Anorexia Nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in Somatization Disorder), or having a serious illness (as in Hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

E. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. 

F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Note that there is no requirement for picking behavior. 

A developing anxiety disorder may be identified if an individual is beginning to have more and more uncontrollable worry and is showing some, but not all, symptoms listed.

Anxiety disorders are not limited to GAD, but include Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobia, etc. 

If you find yourself picking at your nails/skin/lips but have no real anxiety, do not assume you have a disorder.

However, even if the only symptoms you have are nervous habits like that, if you feel that you are in danger of developing an anxiety disorder please do not hesitate to try to develop coping mechanisms before it gets any worse. Do not feel that your distress is not genuine, because even if it isn’t it’s better safe than sorry.

A good place to begin looking for coping mechanisms is here.