What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is much more than the normal anxiety people experience day to day. Chronic and exaggerated worry and tension characterize it, even though nothing seems to provoke it.

Another term for GAD is "free-floating anxiety". This term conveys the generalized nature of the feeling that a dreadful, unknown event is about to befall the sufferer. A person suffering from GAD always anticipates disaster and often worries too much about health, money, family, or work. GAD is diagnosed when a person appears to be affected by excessive worry and anxiety for at least six months.

GAD comes on gradually and most often affects people in childhood or adolescence. It can also appear in adulthood. More women than men appear to suffer from GAD, and it does appear to run in families, either because of heredity, or else because of behavior patterns that are common to a particular family.

People who suffer from GAD can't seem to shake their sense of dread and worry, even if they appear to be intellectually aware that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants. People with GAD also seem unable to relax. They often have trouble falling or staying asleep, and their worries are frequently accompanied by physical symptoms like muscle tension and nausea. They tend to feel tired, have trouble concentrating, and sometimes suffer depression, too.

Usually a person who suffers from GAD is able to carry on with normal activities. He or she can function in social settings, or on the job, and does not usually have to avoid certain situations as a result of the disorder. However, severe GAD can be very debilitating and it can make daily life difficult, as well as having a negative impact on the sufferer's relationships with friends and family.

See also:
- What is Anxiety?
- What are Panic Attacks?
- What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
- What are Phobias?
- What is Post-Tramautic Stress Disorder?

Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.