What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

General anxiety disorder (GAD), is a pattern of frequent worry and general feelings of anxiousness, at different intervals of the day. A person suffering from this condition may feel as though they are constantly anxious, or they may experience anxiety when participating in particular events and activities.

Function

• Generalized anxiety disorder may begin at any time in life, and may be diagnosed in early childhood. Some people with this condition complain of having had feelings of anxiousness for most of their lives.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of anxiety disorders are excessive sweating, difficulty concentrating and controlling worry, excess anxiety, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, feeling jittery and sleep disturbances.

Causes

• Causes of generalized anxiety disorder are unknown, but according to Medline Plus, biological and psychological factors may contribute to it. Being under constant stress may contribute to the development of generalized anxiety disorder as well.

Diagnosis

• Your physician will have to preform a physical examination to make sure there are no physical triggers for the feelings of anxiousness. He will administer several tests that could include blood tests to rule out conditions that may "mimic" symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Treatments

• The first course of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy may be given in conjunction with antidepressant medications. The safest drug prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder according to Helpguide.org is Buspar.