Transcript: Everyone experiences stress in life. How can you tell if what you are experiencing is just regular stress or if it is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?  What differentiates Generalized Anxiety Disorder from normal stress is an excessive, exaggerated worry about everyday life events.  People with General Anxiety Disorder are anxious in a way that’s out of proportion with what’s happening.  When someone has GAD, a constant state of worry and dread comes to dominate that person's thinking – so much so that it interferes with regular daily functions like work, school, and relationships.  Symptoms of stress can be similar to Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but are not as intense. Some key symptoms of General Anxiety Disorder include excessive, ongoing worry restlessness, irritability, muscle tension and headaches are other hallmarks of GAD.  Most sufferers also experience difficulty concentrating and have trouble sleeping.  About 10 million adult Americans suffer from GAD during the course of a year.  It most often begins in childhood or adolescence, but can begin in adulthood, and is more common in women than in men.  Most people who have had GAD are likely to experience it again.The exact cause of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is not fully known, but a number of factors appear to contribute to its development.  Research suggests that family history plays a part in increasing the likelihood that a person will develop GAD.  This means that the tendency to develop GAD may be passed on in families.  GAD has also been associated with abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are special chemical messengers that help move information from nerve cell to nerve cell.  If the neurotransmitters are out of balance, messages cannot get through the brain properly, which can lead to anxiety.  As well, trauma and stressful events, like abuse, death of a loved one, divorce, or changing jobs may lead to GAD. Symptoms of GAD may become worse during periods of stress. A diagnosis of GAD will be based on the intensity and duration of anxiety symptoms--including problems with daily functioning, like causing you to miss work or school. GAD is diagnosed if symptoms are present for more days than not during a period of at least six months.  If you think you might be suffering from GAD contact a heath professional.  If you are interested in learning about treatment options for GAD check out additional videos on the topic.