It is normal to feel anxious. Everyone feels nervous and worried especially right before a big presentation, an upcoming finals exam, or even upon receiving utility bills. But what happens when you fuss too much over normal stuff that isn't supposed to be worrisome? You may already be suffering from one of the most common forms of anxiety disorders ? general anxiety disorder.



What is general anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Mental health professionals describe GAD as a form of anxiety disorder characterized by an excessive, uncontrollable, and often unexplainable worry over mundane, everyday things. The worry is too irrational that it is inappropriate as it is disproportionate to the source of worry.

People with GAD often treat small concerns as if they were catastrophes. They anticipate a non-existent disaster, and make themselves overly concerned about regular, everyday things like: health issues, money matters, family concerns, friends, and work difficulties. You may think that GAD is not such a common psychological disorder, but approximately 6.8 million American adults aged 18 and above experience this condition every year, and it occurs twice as often in women than in men.

What are the symptoms of having GAD?

Here is a list of physical symptoms observed from people who have general anxiety disorders:

Fatigue

Headaches

Muscle tension

Muscle aches

Difficulty swallowing

Trembling

Twitching

Irritability

Sweating

Hot or cold flashes

These symptoms must be constant and ongoing, and persistent for at least 6 months before it can be completely associated with GAD.

Here are some of the psychological and behavioral symptoms of GAD:

chronic worry about events that are unlikely to occur

inability to shut off constant anxious thoughts

feelings of dread

restlessness and inability to relax

trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

trouble concentrating

irritability

easy to startle

procrastination

What causes generalized anxiety disorders?

A lot of factors contribute to the development of GAD, these include:

Heredity. People who come from a family with a history of GAD is more likely to develop the psychological disorder.

Brain chemicals. An imbalance in neurotransmitter levels can cause a person to be more anxious and jumpy than normal.

Traumatic experiences. Certain events that may cause a long-lasting impact on a person's memory may push a person to feel more anxious than usual.

Environmental factors. If a person is brought up to think that he should worry about any and every little thing, he is more prone to develop anxiety disorders of any kind.

Is GAD treatable?

Thanks to advancements in the field of science, generalized anxiety disorders are highly manageable and treatable. Here are some of the treatments used for GAD:

Medications. Anti-anxiety medications help control a person's anxiety attacks by normalizing the level of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Psychotherapy. Mainly using cognitive-behavioral therapy, this form of treatment aims to seek out the root of the anxieties and fears and works out a way to make a person react to their anxiety triggers in a different manner.

Anxiety is normal, it is your body's natural response to any impending danger, whether rational or otherwise. However, when it starts to become overwhelming to that point that it is impairing your daily activities, maybe it is time to seek help. Don't be scared to take a step forward and look for medical assistance, it may help save your life.