Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is the most common type of anxiety disorder in which a person experiences excessive worry, tension and anxiety in almost all the work that he does. Although there is no laboratory test that suggests generalized anxiety disorder, diagnosis is done when this excessive anxiety continues at least half a day for six months or more than six months. Researchers suggest that this disorder is more common in women than in men.

The anxiety becomes so excessive and chronic that it starts interfering in their normal daily activities. An individual with generalized anxiety disorder may worry about health, family, money, job, career or house. They are aware of their intense feelings and want to overcome it but the anxiety prevents this and they are able to do little about it. Many a time, there is no cause for the worry or anxiety and the person realizes that these are irrational. He loses interest in life and becomes listless.

Individuals suffering from generalized anxiety disorder tend to tire easily, suffer from lack of concentration, depression and inability to sleep. Physical symptoms include sweating, headache, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, stomach upset, flushes, trembling, frequent need to urinate and muscle tension. The person also experiences lightheadedness and breathlessness. Some people have fluctuations in mood from hour to hour and some have different levels of anxiety on different days. Ninety per cent of the people who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder have a history of depression, social anxiety, drug abuse or alcohol abuse. The reasons for this type of anxiety are not always apparent, but there is a consistent feeling of anxiousness and worry. The causes for the generalized anxiety disorder may also include genetic factors. This disorder may begin early or later in life.