What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Do you worry constantly and live in an almost constant state of fear or dread? Do you worry about money, health, work or family as well as everyday events and situations? Do you worry about things that there is no obvious reason to worry about? Do you worry that everything is going to become a disaster, about the worse case scenario happening? Is your worry out of proportion to the things that you are worried about?
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can be defined as an anxiety disorder marked by chronic excessive anxiety and worry that is difficult to control, which causes distress and prevents you from living the life that you want.
It is estimated that around 3% of the population is struggling with GAD, with women twice as likely to suffer from it.
Although the exact cause of GAD is unknown, there are a few factors that are thought to contribute to its development:
Genetics – GAD may be passed on through families
Brain – People with GAD may have parts of their brains that function differently, leading to emotional problems
Environmental factors – Stress and trauma, such as divorce or bereavement might contribute to GAD