Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized anxiety disorder often known as GAD is more common than you may think affecting 3% of the population. People suffering from GAD spend their life in a constant state of worry, concern, anxiety and a general fear of what may go wrong. They spend their life considering all the things that may go wrong and often fall into a state of depression due to these fears.

People suffering from generalized anxiety disorder will exhibit symptoms such as failing to stop thinking about a matter or situation. They will spend their time dwelling on one thing over and over and over.

Over analysing the events and wondering what could have been done differently, what if I had done or said something different? This constant thinking and dwelling on one thing leads to difficulty sleeping with some sufferers unable to sleep. Of course this leads on to the body and mind being tired and can be a downward spiral to eventual depression.

Along with the mental problems caused by GAD many sufferers will also have physical ailments such as headaches, mood swings, irritability and have a hard time to concentrate on any given task. This will often present itself as the inability to fully relax and these people will often appear “on edge”.

Fortunately if a persons generalized anxiety disorder is recognized there are successful treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy which has seen positive results over the years when applied to sufferers of GAD.

Those who are treated with cognitive behavioural therapy are taught how to analyze situations that are triggering the anxiety attacks and learn how to view each situation from a new perspective whilst at the same time developing the ability to control their anxiety. Such treatment has been highly successful over the years.

Whilst there are many sufferers of GAD the good news is that it is treatable with many people having a full recovery in as little as 3 months.