Anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD is characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events. Symptoms of GAD include: Excessive, ongoing worry and tension, An unrealistic view of problems, Restlessness or a feeling of being "edgy", Irritability, Muscle tension, Headaches, Sweating, Difficulty concentrating, Nausea, The need to go to the bathroom frequently, Tiredness, Trouble falling or staying asleep, Trembling, Being easily startled.

The exact cause of GAD is not fully known, but a number of factors—including genetics, brain chemistry and environmental stresses—appear to contribute to its development.

Neural circuitry involving the amygdala and hippocampus is thought to underlie anxiety (Rosen & Schulkin, 1998). When confronted with unpleasant and potentially harmful stimuli such as foul odors or tastes, PET-scans show increased bloodflow in the amygdala (Zald & Pardo, 1997; Zald, Hagen & Pardo, 2002). In these studies, the participants also reported moderate anxiety. This might indicate that anxiety is a protective mechanism designed to prevent the organism from engaging in potentially harmful behaviors.

Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives.

Some research has strongly suggested that treating anxiety in cancer patients improves their quality of life. The treatment generally consists of counseling, relaxation techniques or pharmacologically with benzodiazepines.