We now know that there are any number of mental disorders in the world and most of us can at least begin to appreciate just how difficult these disorders can make life for the sufferer. Anxiety disorders are just as painful and can be just as debilitating as other disorders and Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD is a particularly severe form of anxiety disorder.

While a certain amount of anxiety is generally viewed as a normal reaction towards dangerous, uncertain, important or threatening situations, GAD puts a frightening twist on this. The reaction experienced by people suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder is one of pathological anxiety. Basically this means that the anxiety that occurs for them is excessive and chronic, and not relative to the apparent cause. Generalized Anxiety Disorder can severely interfere with and restrict a person’s daily life and their activities.

Generalized or “free-floating” anxiety as it may also be called does not have to be triggered by a specific object or even a situation. Unlike panic attacks or anxiety attacks a person does not need any kind of memory or previous experience to trigger this disorder. GAD is known to affect 4 million to 5 million adults in America alone.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder can affect both men and women, although overall women are more likely to be affected than men.

Generalized anxiety disorder is scientifically associated with an individual experiencing irregular levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry messages to the nerve endings in the brain. There are three types of neurotransmitters that are connected with anxiety. They are Norepinephrine, Gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA, and Serotonin. During a heightened anxiety attack all three of these neurotransmitters interact with each other and it is now known that a decrease in the levels of serotonin and GABA has the ability to reduce anxiety.

People who suffer from GAD are particularly at risk from certain factors like environmental stresses. Examples of the type of environmental things that can cause a problem for them are things like school, work, travel and pretty much any other daily activity that most of us seem to take in our stride. Sleep disorders are another potential problem that Generalized Anxiety Disorder can lead to.

Stressful situations like having some financial concerns, concerns about health, relationships, school problems or work problems are all likely to contribute towards an attack of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in a sufferer.

While GAD in itself is a problem, there is often a correlation between Generalized Anxiety Disorders and other psychiatric disorders. Depression, phobic disorders and panic disorders are also sometimes linked with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder include the inability to shake off persistent worries, a tendency to feel constantly tired, experience difficulty in concentrating, feelings of depression, experiencing constant tension, light-headedness, nausea, noticeably erratic mood swings, and an inability to control yourself in a socially acceptable way.

Should you find yourself afflicted with any or severall of these symptoms then it would be wise for you to consult your medical doctor, to obtain a diagnosis and if necessary to receive treatment for the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder as soon as you can. Otherwise the condition is likely to deteriorate to the point where you will feel unable to lead a fulfilling life. So seek medical attention as possible – remember that Generalized Anxiety Disorder is treatable, it doesn’t have to have such a big negative impact on your daily life.