Generalized  anxiety disorder (GAD) affects over 4 million adult Americans every year, and is a condition where the person feels extremely worried or anxious on a regular basis. 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.

People with GAD are anxious about everyday situations and may agonize over money matters, work or school responsibilities, their health and the safety of their family. 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. 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 states that many people make the situation worse by resorting to eating food, and taking in nicotine or caffeine to handle their feelings.

Lastly, brain chemicals may be another factor in the development of GAD. Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters are linked with anxiety disorders. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that relay signals in the brain and an imbalance of it can affect the type of signals the brain is sending and receiving. This can translate to a slightly stressful situation triggering an intense fear response in a person. The person then will start to associate fear with that situation. This happens because the brain is producing the wrong signals so the person has a distorted perception of the situation.

A healthy lifestyle and sound nutrition can easily balance abnormal neurotransmitter levels. Medicine or natural supplements may be prescribed in serious cases. And more women experience the symptoms and effects of this disorder than men.

Although the root cause of GAD and other panic disorders are still unknown, but we can proactively take measures to reduce its effects. Lifestyle and behavior modification may be our best anxiety treatment option. We can certainly choose to eat healthy foods, stay fit through regular exercise, get enough rest and manage stress in a healthy way. These things are proven to lessen feelings of worry, fear and anxiety.

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