Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a disease that leads you to worry excessively about everyday things, regardless of whether the situation demands it or not. Most people have worries and concerns in life, and it is not uncommon to feel stressed about different things. However, if you suffer from GAD, you always feel overly tense, anxious and worried about the outcome of mundane things and issues that cause you to become upset and worried to such an extent that it interferes with your everyday life. Just the thought of getting through the day may cause anxiety and all aspects of your life such as work, school and relationships can get affected.

Some people develop generalized anxiety disorder as children whereas others have adult onset GAD. The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder are similar to that of other diseases such as panic disorder , obsessive compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but these are different conditions affecting you in different ways.

The causes of GAD are unknown but it is sometimes believed to have genetic beginnings. It is also caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. In some cases, GAD may be due to environmental factors such as trauma, abuse, death of someone close to you or withdrawal from addictive substances such as alcohol and nicotine.

When to seek expert advice

If you are constantly feeling worried and anxious, and experience several of the symptoms mentioned above, seek help from your doctor working with the Section of Neurology at The Aga Khan University Hospital. You can safely and privately discuss your symptoms, gain advice and receive personalized treatment and care.

For a preliminary examination, you can also consult the doctors working with the Department of Family Medicine at The Aga Khan University Hospital.