Understanding the Cause of Anxiety Disorders
Over 4 million adult Americans are affected with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) annually. GAD is a condition wherein an individual feels overly worried or anxious. It is normal for people to worry given certain situations, but for people who have GAD, their anxiety level would be high even in normal situations.
GAD sufferers are unable to refrain from worrying about common situations and may be disturbed about work and school duties, money matters and family affairs. People afflicted with an anxiety disorder are normally stressed and depressed and may avoid social interactions.
The root cause of this disorder is still unknown to us. Based on doctors and researchers work however, there seems to be several factors that play a role in the development of generalized anxiety disorder. Number one on their list is heredity. It seems that an individual is more likely to suffer from GAD if his or her parents were constant “worriers”.
Aside from genetics, generalized anxiety disorder may also have an environmental aspect. All people may feel fear and anxiety when they experience stressful events, such as losing a loved one, losing a job, being abused and dealing with divorce. People can overcome fear and anxiety but these feelings can remain in a person’s psyche if they are unable to address it. Some may constantly relapse into a fear or anxious state whenever they experience stress. MedicineNet.com states that many people make the situation worse by resorting to eating food, and taking in nicotine or caffeine to handle their feelings.
Lastly, brain chemicals may be another factor in the development of GAD. Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain had been correlated with anxiety disorders. Neurotransmitters are responsible for sending and receiving of information in the brain and a high level of it is speculated to somehow confuse our brain’s perception. If this happens, a person who experiences slight stress would start to feel intense fear because the brain is sending the wrong signals to the body.
Correcting neurotransmitter imbalances is possible by eating certain foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In some extreme cases, medication or natural supplements may also be recommended. It’s important to understand that generalized anxiety disorder is quite common, and more women experience the symptoms and effects of this disorder than men.
Genes and past experiences may not be altered but we can still control our lifestyle to lessen the effects of anxiety disorders. We can choose to have a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, get plenty of rest and deal with stress in a healthy way to prevent feelings of anxiety and worry. Lifestyle and behavior modification may be the most effective method to stop the symptoms of GAD from interfering with the daily live of millions of people.