 |
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is much more intense than the normal
anxiety people experience on a day to day basis. This anxiety is chronic
and fills one's everyday life with worry and tension, even when there wasn't
anything really to provoke it. An individual with this disorder constantly
worries excessively about everything from income, to friends and family,
or employment. GAD is perhaps better characterized by the anticipation of
disaster that usually is present in every moment of the afflicted individual's
day. A rudimentary event like getting through the day is enough to provoke
anxiety. People experiencing this anxiety, though they know it is irrational,
cannot usually shake their fears.
|
|
 |
GAD affects about
4 million adult Americans. |
|
About twice as
many women as men are affected by the disorder. |
|
The disorder comes
on gradually and can begin across the life cycle, though the
risk is highest between childhood and middle age. |
|
GAD is diagnosed
when someone spends at least 6 months worrying excessively about
a number of everyday problems. |
|
There is evidence
that genes play a modest role in GAD. |
|
GAD is commonly
treated with medications. |
|
GAD rarely occurs
alone, however; it is usually accompanied by another anxiety
disorder, depression, or substance abuse. |
|
