Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (also known as GAD, which strikes me as an appropriate sounding acronym), is more diffuse than other anxiety disorders and may not be highly disruptive except under additional stress.  Usually there is little objective cause for the anxious feelings and chronic worries, but they just can't be shaken off. It can take various forms from exaggerated  health worries (like fearing you've got an ulcer when you feel a stomach ache and then worrying at the thought), to difficulty sleeping, to feeling light-headed or like your heart is racing.

While many don't consider this to be a really severe condition, if you've got it you are really suffering and it can make your life horribly miserable. Maybe some of those around you don't take it seriously. They tell you to lighten up, get it together and stop being silly. They can't see it maybe, but it just isn't anywhere near that easy. I've had anxiety attacks, but I can barely imagine what it would be like to go through day after day struggling with a chronic condition like generalized anxiety disorder. It may not reach the total space-out mind-blown-out levels of a raging panic attack, but it is an exhausting and painful thing that just eats away at you.

Relaxing can seem an impossibility and difficulty concentrating is common. Not many people with a generalized anxiety disorder will actually avoid social situations, but if the stress gets bad and the anxiety level gets severe, they may be unable to handle what are usually simple daily activities.

GAD sufferers are usually expecting disaster - for no real reason, it just feels like something really bad is going to happen. Everyday issues like health, family problems, money or work-related problems are taken way too seriously and can be the source of continual concern. For some, the very thought of surviving another day makes them anxious.

Generalized anxiety disorder affects close to 7 million people a year with almost twice as many woman as men suffering from it.  While it can start at nearly any point in your life, it more commonly occurs from childhood to middle age. For a formal diagnosis of GAD, the excessive anxiety must continue for about six months (and that six months can seem like forever).  GAD is also often accompanied by other anxiety disorders, depression and (or) substance abuse.

Traditional treatment methods usually involve verbal psychotherapy and prescription medications.  A wide variety of psychoactive chemicals have been used in treating GAD and the associated other problems.  Anxiety disorders can not be cured by medications. At the best they reduce the symptoms. Some can have very unpleasant side effects, some are habituating and doctors are starting to use them more carefully and for shorter periods especially if there are any signs of substance abuse.

Natural remedies for anxiety may be helpful without the risk of side-effects or addiction.  Many people have gotten significant relief by using natural cures for depression anxiety and related problems. A more healthy alternative when used properly, carefully formulated herbal remedies that are created under pharmaceutical quality conditions from carefully selected ingredients to insure effective levels are finding their place as many people's treatment of choice for anxiety related problems.