Anxiety is a feeling of worry, fear or uneasiness that can range in severity from mildly disconcerting to have a severe impact on daily living.
Some amount of anxiety is normal and is experienced by most individuals at some point in their lives. However, people with a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from a more severe form of anxiety that can be difficult to control and even disabling in terms of carrying out regular day-to-day activities.
Anxiety is a symptom that is seen in several mental health conditions including GAD, panic disorder, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Symptoms of GAD
GAD is typically long lasting and people with GAD often may have difficulty in remembering the last time they felt at ease. Symptoms of GAD may be psychological, physical or both. Some of the symptoms of GAD include:
- Worry
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- A feeling of dread and impending danger
- Social withdrawal
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Palpitations and chest pain
- Excessive sweating and hot flushes
- Difficulty in breathing
- Difficulty in falling asleep or maintaining sleeping state throughout the night
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Tremors
- Dry mouth
- Muscle weakness
- An urge to urinate frequently and excessive thirst
- Painful or missed menstrual periods
In GAD, feelings of anxiety are usually continuous, with individuals feeling anxious in general about a large number of circumstances and issues, rather than their anxiety being specific to a particular event.
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