Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is chronic excessive worry about an array of activities or events.  This worry goes on every day, possibly all day. People with GAD feel their worrying is beyond their control and can't be turned "off." They often expect the worst, even when there is no good reason for concern. Their excessive worrying is often about health, family, money or work.

 

Causes

Anxiety disorders are believed to have biological, family, and environmental factors that contribute to the cause. A chemical imbalance involving two chemicals in the brain most likely contributes to the development of anxiety disorders.

Symptoms

• The following are the most common symptoms of GAD. Symptoms may include:

• Many worries about things before they happen
• Muscle aches or tension
• Headache
• Sleep disturbance
• Feeling as though there is a lump in the throat
• Fatigue
• Excessive sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Lack of concentration
• Irritability
• Stomachache<
• Diarrhea
   

Treatment

If no physical illness is found, you may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses.

Medication can be very useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and it is often used in conjunction with one or more of the therapies mentioned above. Sometimes anti-depressants or anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications) are used to alleviate severe symptoms so that other forms of therapy can go forward. Medication is effective for many people and can be either a short-term or long-term treatment option, depending on the individual.