Generalized anxiety disorder is just one of many types of anxiety disorders. They all have similar symptoms, but someone who suffers from GAD is likely to experience:

• Getting tired easily.
• Frequently feelings of irritability.
• Extreme muscle tension and soreness.
• Sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
• Feelings of restlessness.
• Constantly feeling on edge.
• Problems controlling their worries.
• Difficulty with concentration.

A person who is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder has had excessive worry almost every day for the last six months.

Like many mental health issues, generalized anxiety disorder tends to run in families. But that does not mean that it is only genetic. There are also some environmental factors that can play a role in it as well.

People with GAD typically demonstrate an imbalance in the chemicals, serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in their brains. When these chemicals are not in balance, this could indicate a likeliness of developing one of many mental health conditions. GAD is often the result.

Generalized anxiety disorder has also been linked to past traumatic events, particularly during childhood. A child who has witnessed a traumatic event or been a victim of physical or sexual abuse are much more likely to develop GAD.

There are a number of factors that could cause someone to be at a higher risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder.

• Genetics – People are much more likely to have an anxiety disorder if they have a family history of anxiety. But this does not mean that it always happens to everyone.
• Loss of a parent – People who have had a parent die or who has been absent from their lives as children are much more likely to develop GAD.
• Family issues – It is possible that family problems like alcoholism, sexual abuse or violence also make it more likely for a person to develop this condition.
• History of trauma – High stress, traumatic events that are experienced before the age of 21 have been shown to lead to generalized anxiety disorder.
• History of depression – When a person suffers with depression, they are also much more likely to have some type of anxiety disorder as well. More often than not, it is GAD.
• History of self-harming behaviors – Cutting and other forms of self-harm are often seen during the teenage years. These behaviors can lead to anxiety well into adulthood.
• Stress – People who live or work in stressful environments are much more likely than others to develop GAD.
• Personality factors – There are some personality traits that might make it more likely for someone to develop anxiety. Being overly sensitive and shy are just two examples.
• History of substance abuse – Many people start using drugs or alcohol as a way to combat symptoms of anxiety. But what they do not realize is that some types of substances can actually contribute to it as well.