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.