Generalized Anxiety Disorder Causes
September 29, 2008 by Alex Taylor
As with all forms of anxiety disorder, no one can be certain of the exact causes of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Research is taking place all the time that will eventually allow us to better understand the true root-causes of GAD, which in turn may well make it possible prevent the condition from ever occurring.
Chemical Imbalances:
Chemical imbalances are one of the areas being looked into, and many doctors believe this to be the most common cause of GAD. A large proportion of people with GAD have atypical levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. These are the neurotransmitters - they carry signals and messages across nerve endings. When there is an imbalance in these chemicals a person can be predisposed to much higher levels of anxiety than in someone who does not have the same imbalances.
Heredity:
Another area that’s being heavily researched is heredity, with many respected doctors believing that generalized anxiety disorder runs in families. There is already some evidence that you are more likely to develop GAD at some point in your life if someone in your immediate family also has the condition.
Lifestyle Factors:
A theory that’s gaining momentum is that GAD is a learned condition, brought about by life experiences, especially those experienced as a child. This theory also suggests that heredity may not be such a powerful causing factor in GAD, and that the condition may run in families because members of the same family are exposed to the same experiences over a period of many years.
Learn More About The Causes of GAD:
If you’d like to look further into the potential causes and risk factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder, take a look at the Mayo Clinic’s GAD Causes Page.
You might also want to take a look at my dedicated anxiety causes page, which goes into more detail on the subjects I’ve touched on above on this page.
