People with PTSD keep experiencing the ordeal through recurrent nightmares or memories of the event, flashbacks, and extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress when exposed to situations that remind them of the trauma. Individuals with GAD worry constantly, even when there is no apparent reason for doing so. The focus of these excessive concerns can be health, family, work, or money. In addition, those with GAD are unable to relax, are easily tired and irritable, have difficulty concentrating, and may experience insomnia, muscle tension, trembling, fatigue, and headaches. Although people with GAD usually do not seek to avoid specific objects or situations, they are highly likely to have additional mental health difficulties, such as depression, substance abuse, or another anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders run in families.
For example, if one identical twin has an anxiety disorder, the second twin is likely to have an anxiety disorder as well, which suggests that genetics possibly in combination with life experiences makes some people more susceptible to these illnesses. Brain chemistry, too, appears to play a role in the onset of anxiety disorders, since symptoms of anxiety disorders are often relieved by medications that alter levels of chemicals in the brain. Personality also may play a role, as people who have low self-esteem and poor coping skills may be prone to anxiety disorders. Finally, life experiences such as long-term exposure to abuse, violence, or poverty may affect individuals susceptibility to these illnesses. These treatments can be prescribed alone or in combination.