| Approximately 6.8 million Americans experience | | | | daily basis. Over time, these symptoms start to get in |
| generalized anxiety disorder. The disorder consists of | | | | the way of the things in life that are important. People |
| feelings of worry, anxiety, stress, depression, and | | | | tend to become so overcome with worry and fear |
| sadness for a period of at least 6 months before a | | | | that they may start to withdraw from social activities, |
| diagnosis can be finalized. Common physical | | | | neglect friendships, and oftentimes become a "hermit" |
| symptoms may manifest themselves in the form of | | | | because of fear of what others may think of them. |
| weight loss or weight gain, frequent panic attacks, | | | | Although, these are all usually irrational fears that have |
| feelings of nausea, diarrhea, IBS (irritable bowel | | | | no place in reality. |
| syndrome), difficulty falling asleep, and insomnia, just to | | | | Things in an individual's environment can also add to |
| name a few. | | | | the effects of generalized anxiety disorder. If someone |
| Doctors have defined generalized anxiety disorder as | | | | experiences a death or loss, changes locations, gives |
| constant worry about work, money, family, school, and | | | | birth, has an accident, or even if someone is unhappy |
| everyday life in general, and always expecting a | | | | with their current circumstances, all of these things can |
| terrible outcome in every aspect of life. It is much more | | | | intensify the effects of this already terrible illness. |
| than a person simply being termed a pessimist. | | | | If left untreated, generalized anxiety disorder will just |
| It can be caused by genetic factors and an improper | | | | continue to grow into even more of a terrible monster |
| balance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. But, | | | | than what it already is. The physical effects could lead |
| the effects can be reversed with proper and effective | | | | to other health problems such as high blood pressure. |
| treatment. Doctors will usually treat the illness with | | | | High blood pressure puts people at risk for a heart |
| intense therapy sessions followed by an | | | | attack. The effects of high blood pressure can |
| anti-depressant medication if necessary. Medication is | | | | aggravate the anxiety even further. |
| not always needed, but in most cases is preferred to | | | | Other mental illnesses can also arise from this |
| help cope with the illness. The effects of the disorder | | | | particular disorder, such as panic disorder, obsessive |
| can become so crippling that most individuals suffering | | | | compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. |
| from the symptoms of it have a hard time performing | | | | Remember that the disorder is treatable, but has to be |
| everyday activities or even going to work. | | | | given proper treatment for a length of time. Everyone |
| Generalized anxiety disorder has an effect on every | | | | is different and will require a different treatment, but |
| individual that it plagues. This disorder may cause some | | | | the same approach is recommended for all. If you feel |
| to experience frequent sweating, nausea, difficulty | | | | you are a victim to this illness, the best way to begin |
| breathing, difficulty swallowing, and panic attacks on a | | | | treatment is to see a doctor before it is too late. |