Many people are chronically or constantly anxious, regardless of their life circumstances. This condition is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD. People with GAD may feel anxious because of big problems, small problems, or no problems. With some sufferers the anxiety is focused on specific worries, with others the anxiety may be diffuse and may not be related to any particular concern. People with GAD generally have high baseline anxiety, meaning anxiety under normal circumstances, and their anxiety can rise to extreme levels when serious problems and stresses arise. This condition is quite painful and people who have it have often been suffering from it since childhood or adolescence. People with GAD also have a heightened risk of depression and of other anxiety disorders (as described above), and of abuse of substances such as alcohol or benzodiazepines that help them relax for a little while.