Over 4 million adult Americans are affected with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) annually. GAD is a condition wherein an individual feels overly worried or anxious. Symptoms include extreme anxiety or worry about normal situations.
GAD sufferers are unable to refrain from worrying about common situations and may be disturbed about work and school duties, money matters and family affairs. People suffering from anxiety are normally stressed and depressed and may avoid social interactions.
The disorder has no known root cause but doctors and researchers infer that some factors contribute to the disorder’s development. Family history often plays an important role in the development of generalized anxiety disorder. If a person’s parent were constant “worriers”, they probably grew up in an environment where fear and anxiety were part of everyday life.
The environment is another factor in the development of GAD. Stressful events such as abuse, divorce, moving, changing jobs or losing a loved one can trigger real fear, dread and anxiety, But this can worsen if it is left unaddressed. Some may constantly relapse into a fear or anxious state whenever they experience stress. MedicineNet.com reports that many people turn to food, nicotine or caffeine to manage their feelings, but this often makes the situation worse.
Finally, brain chemistry may play a role in the development of generalized anxiety disorder. Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters are linked with anxiety disorders. This means the person may be experiencing a fear response from only a mildly stressful situation, and will start to link the mildly stressful situation to that negative experience. If this happens, a person who experiences slight stress would start to feel intense fear because the brain is sending the wrong signals to the body.
A healthy lifestyle and sound nutrition can easily balance abnormal neurotransmitter levels. In rare cases, medication or natural supplements may be prescribed. And more women experience the symptoms and effects of this disorder than men.
Even though family history and environmental factors may not change, there are several ways to reduce the effects of GAD and other panic disorders. Making healthy food choices, getting enough rest, maintaining a regular exercise schedule, and controlling stress in a healthy way can help to reduce feelings of fear, worry and overwhelm on a regular basis. Lifestyle and behavior modification are effective anxiety treatment options for the millions of people suffering from daily anxiety problems, and may be necessary when generalized anxiety disorder symptoms and related anxiety problems are interfering with daily life.
