Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Causes and Symptoms

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, also known as (GAD), is a higher than normal level of anxiety that people experience day to day. It can fill ones day with constant worry and tension even though there is little or nothing provoking it. Sometimes just thoughts of getting through the day can cause anxiety.

Someone with Generalized Anxiety Disorder often worries excessively about money, family, health, or work. Sometimes the source of the worry is not known, it is just there. The cause of GAD is not well understood.

GAD suffers sometimes have a difficult time relaxing, or falling to sleep and staying asleep.

Unlike individuals with other anxiety disorders, people with GAD do not avoid certain situations because of their disorder. They normally can function in social settings and/or at work. However, GAD can make it difficult to carry on with life's everyday activities.

In most cases, a person who suffers from Generalized Anxiety Disorder will have intense physical symptoms.

Here are a few of them:

• Hot Flashes
• Muscle Aches
• Muscle Tension
• Headaches
• Difficulty Swallowing
• Trembling
• Fatigue
• Twitching
• Irritability
• Lightheadedness
• Difficulty Breathing

Some will also have an upset stomach or nausea, or have to use the restroom frequently.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is usually accompanied by depression, another anxiety disorder, or substance abuse. These conditions must be treated along with the GAD. Treatment can consist of medication, and/or therapy.

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