Generalized Anciety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) puts a person’s mind in a state of worry and stress about common everyday events and activities. These events and activities that cause worry inside one’s mind are often trivial and unimportant but the worry a person feels for them is beyond their control. Often there are physical side effects that coincide with the disorder, such as headache, fatigue, hard time swallowing, feeling shaky, sweaty, hot, lightheaded, nauseous, irritability, uncomfortable, and problems with sleep. The causes of GAD are still unknown; anyone can develop the disorder, many beginning as a child or adolescent. “Women are twice as likely as men to develop the disorder.” “Some medicines can cause worry and stress or make your stress worse, such as with amphetamines (Ritalin) or too much caffeine. Illegal drugs such as cocaine have this affect as well” (WebMD, 2009).
The diagnosis of GAD involves an examination by a doctor who will then ask questions about symptoms, medical history, and current medications. For a doctor to consider a person to have GAD the person must exhibit an unnatural worry and stress, on an almost every day level that have lasted at least 6 months. Because the stress and unnecessary worrying make it difficult for a person to participate in daily activities such as going out to eat, going to work, or grocery shopping it is important that a person who seems or thinks they have anxiety see a medical professional (WebMD, 2009).
A person’s genetics, biochemistry, environment, history, and psychological profile can all contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Most people with these disorders seem to have a biological vulnerability to stress, making them more susceptible to environmental stimuli than the rest of the population.
“Studies suggest that an imbalance of certain substances called neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) may contribute to anxiety disorders. The neurotransmitters targeted in anxiety... [continues]

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