Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
It is normal to feel anxious at times, especially during stressful periods in one’s life. However, excessive, uncontrollable and irrational worry without a proportionate reason for the behavior may interfere with daily activities and may indicate having Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
As with several other mental health conditions, the exact cause of GAD is not fully understood. There are certain conditions that seem to contribute to its existence. Some of these are genetics, brain chemistry, gender (females have a higher risk of developing GAD), personality and substance abuse, as well as life experiences and environmental factors, including stress and trauma.
Physical health conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heart disease, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, and menopause, also appear to be associated with its development.
Individuals with GAD often exhibit physical symptoms, even though the condition mainly affects the way a person thinks. Physical symptoms include fatigue, frequent headaches, nausea, muscle tension, excessive sweating, trembling and fidgeting, difficulty in breathing, restlessness, rashes, insomnia, and irritability. It is also common for people with GAD to suffer from other mental health concerns, such as phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.
People with GAD should see a psychiatrist or a psychologist, who can effectively diagnose and plan treatment. Often, treatment includes medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Tags: anxiety disorder, causes of GAD, causes of mental health disorders, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
July 17, 2012 at 1:39 pmDr_Helping_Disorders
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good post, i think you really nailed with listing some of the most common symptoms.
July 17, 2012 at 1:57 pmBrandy Saelens
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I am a 30year old wife, mother of a 6year old handicapped child and also have a 5&3 year old and i feel like my whole world is falling a part. It all started four years ago and was put on lexapro and xanax was on that for two years and after my third child changed to cymbalta so two years on that i decided to come off the meds well four months off everthing went down hill i couldn’t eat take care of my kids orAnything it was horrible. I just layed there. My hear raising couldn’t sleep knot in my throat pannik attacks you name it i had it. Can eat now and take care of children but still can’t sleep heart racing all the time knots on my throat just irratable all the time just praying this will go away going on 9 months now i want a happy life and be a good wife and mom i want it to go away what do i do?