Generalized anxiety disorder happens when a person consistently worries about many things in life. Stress is a natural response of the body to changes that require certain amounts of adjustment. That is why it’s quite normal for one to become stressed or worry about certain events/situations that seem overwhelming.  However, stress can lead to anxiety, and it is when people get anxious over simple things that it can get out of hand. When that happens, a person may already be dealing with generalized anxiety disorder without him realizing it.

Causes and Risk Factors

There are many possible causes for generalized anxiety disorder. In fact, the condition can also be inherited.  It also has a higher incidence among women than men.  Generalized anxiety disorder can begin from childhood.  In some cases, people get worried as part of learned behavior. Individuals with anxious parents tend to learn such behavior as well.

Usually, people with this condition have been worrying about many things as far as they can remember.

Symptoms

The most obvious indication of generalized anxiety disorder is worry or tension elicited by even simple situations. It is normal for people to be concerned with issues pertaining to money, health, relationships or work. However, people with generalized anxiety disorder often worry too much that it affects their daily lives. Some of the symptoms commonly shown by individuals with this condition include:

• Persistent worrying about small concerns
• Fatigue
• Unable to focus on a task
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Insomnia or irregular sleep
• Sweating, nausea or diarrhea
• Startling easily
• Shortness of breath

Indeed, such symptoms can easily affect the daily activities of an individual with the said disorder. The person may find it hard to concentrate on his job or study. Even individuals staying at home may become unable to do tasks because of the aforementioned symptoms.

It is important to seek treatment once the symptoms have been shown by an individual. Treatment for generalized anxiety disorder may vary depending on the doctor’s recommendation after proper assessment. The usual route towards treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy and medications.

The therapy helps patients to express their fears and find ways to cope with them. The medications typically prescribed by doctors are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and some anti-depressants depending on the severity of the disorder. The medications can relieve anxiety and calm down the patient.

There are some doctors who are able to recognize the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder at its early stages. In such a case, the doctor may recommend that the patient start taking adaptogenic supplements that are proven to reduce stress-inducing hormones. These supplements are made from adaptogenic herbs like Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Schisandra, Ginseng, Eleuthero, Cordyceps, and Licorice, among others.

There are plenty of adaptogenic supplements available in the market today, so it may be a bit confusing for people to choose the best one that suits their needs. Nevertheless, there are websites dedicated to reviewing said supplements to make it easier for consumers. It will do a person well to read their buying guide  in order to determine which brand contains some or all of the adaptogenic herbs mentioned previously.

Indeed, there are many options in treating generalized anxiety disorder as long as you take action once symptoms appear.