Generalized Anxiety Disorder is what (GAD)?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a vicious cycle of sorts. If you are suffering from this disorder, you would tend to worry too much about the future, at the cost of losing peace of mind and focus. Then, with the loss of concentration and the inability to relax, social interactions get disrupted and work becomes affected. Eventually, your fear starts to materialize, and before you know it, your worries become real.

Such is the predicament of millions of people, not just in America but in the whole world as well, who experience bouts of excessive, chronic and uncontrollable anxiety. While anxiety attacks might occur for apparently no reason, the truth is, there is a deep-seated cause somewhere. Until now, science cannot actually pin down the cause but it is usually attributed to chemical imbalance, nutritional deficiency, stress, and trauma.

Therapists are reluctant to use the word 'illness' because, in most cases, Generalized Anxiety Disorder isn't debilitating at all. While there have been cases of people avoiding work due to irrational fears (such as train crashes and freak accidents), a person with GAD still functions -- and functions well. In some cases, work output or performance can be affected but mostly, someone with GAD just bears the tension, at the cost of his/her own well-being. As there are physical symptoms such as insomnia, rapid exhaustion and vomiting, GAD can take its physical toll on the person.

The problem with GAD is that, people affected with the disorder rarely ask for help. At least, that was the case before the advent of educational campaigns regarding GAD. People tend to shrug it off as simple 'worrying', unaware that there is a significant difference between Generalized Anxiety Disorder and normal worrying.

With normal worrying, you can still function well. You will most likely throw a thought or two to your concerns, but it will not cause any significant loss of concentration, which happens to people with GAD. Another difference is that, with GAD, the worrying is chronic and uncontrollable, at times, occurring daily. With normal-worrying, it is the opposite – short-term and easily controllable. People who suffer from GAD also always envision catastrophes. While it is good to expect the worst, people with GAD have much difficultly seeing, or accepting any scenario, except the worst, even when it isn't at all likely to happen.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder can disrupt one's work performance and social life. Since it can be caused by a variety of reasons, and the panic attacks can be triggered by stress and traumatic stimulus, it is important that you consult a professional, to get accurate diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment. While it is normal to worry, no one should be forced to live with the burden of excessive anxiety.