subject: Recognize The Cause Of Anxiety Disorder [print this page] 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. It is normal for people to worry given certain situations, but for people who have GAD, their anxiety level would be high even in 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.
There is no known root cause of generalized anxiety disorder, but doctors and researchers conjecture that there are several factors that contribute to the development of this anxiety problem. Family history often plays an important role in the development of generalized anxiety disorder. It seems that an individual is more likely to suffer from GAD if his or her parents were constant "worriers".
Aside from genetics, generalized anxiety disorder may also have an environmental aspect. All people may feel fear and anxiety when they experience stressful events, such as losing a loved one, losing a job, being abused and dealing with divorce. People can overcome fear and anxiety but these feelings can remain in a person's psyche if they are unable to address it. 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 in the brain had been correlated 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 some extreme cases, medication or natural supplements may also be recommended. It is important to take note that GAD is a common disorder; and it affects more women than men.
Genes and past experiences may not be altered but we can still control our lifestyle to lessen the effects of anxiety and 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.
