Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a long-term condition associated with “free-floating” feelings of anxiety and irrational worry in a broad range of scenarios — such as finances, interpersonal relationships, the workplace, health issues, and death — rather than in just a single, isolated event. 

While many are familiar with feeling anxious during stressful situations such as a job interview, taking an exam, or public speaking, persistent or excessive symptoms of anxiety that impair functioning can indicate a generalized anxiety disorder. 

Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 

GAD has similar symptoms to other anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, and panic disorder, but GAD is characterized by physical and psychological symptoms. 

Physical symptoms include: 

  • Palpitations (an awareness of your heart beating faster than usual) 
  • Palpitations (an awareness of your heart beating faster than usual) 
  • Muscle aches or tension 
  • Shortness of breath 
  • “Churning of the stomach” 
  • Fatigue 
  • Headaches 
  • A choking sensation 
  • Trembling 
  • Irritability 
  • Easily startled 
  • Irritable bowel syndrome 
  • Diarrhea and/or nausea 
  • Problems sleeping 

 

Psychological symptoms include: 

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep 
  • Ongoing disproportionate worry or obsession about things 
  • Irritability 
  • Feeling “on edge” 
  • A foreboding that something terrible is about to happen 
  • Inability to stop worrying 
  • Problems relaxing 
  • Lack of ability to focus 
  • Fear of making bad decisions causing anxiety 
  • Lack of certainty causing distress 
  • Focusing on negative outcomes when considering options 
  • Obsessive quest for validation through social media 

 

With generalized anxiety, there can be periods of relief and there can be periods when there is no obvious source for the anxiety. Anxiety commonly manifests in a general impending sense of doom for oneself or one’s family’s safety. It is not uncommon for anxiety to cause problems at home, in work, at school, or in relationships. 

 

With teenagers or young children, their symptoms may also include: 

  • Anxiety related to fitting in 
  • Lack of confidence 
  • Being a perfectionist 
  • Spending longer than most doing homework 
  • Spending longer than most doing homework 
  • Persistent quest for approval 
  • Need for an abnormal degree of reassurance related to performance 

 

Some may also have extreme worries regarding sport or school performance, being on time, or re major events like earthquakes or nuclear war. 

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 diagnostic manual, the criteria includes any one of the following symptoms for children, or any three for adults: 

  • Inability to focus 
  • Irritability 
  • Issues sleeping 
  • Extreme tiredness 
  • Muscle tension 
  • Restlessness 
  • Worry or anxiety that is disruptive to everyday life 
  • Trouble controlling worry 
  • Anxiety unrelated to other diagnosed mental health conditions 
  • Almost daily anxiety or worry about numerous situations in excessive levels for six months or more 

 

GAD is not necessarily a standalone disorder; it can often coexist with other mental disorders such as depression and/or alcohol dependence syndrome, phobias, panic disorder, or PTSD. 

Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 

The mainstay of treatment for GAD is talking therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or medication. 

Psychotherapy – can be an effective therapist-based treatment to reduce symptoms of generalized anxiety. It is also referred to as talk therapy or psychological counseling. 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy – is a short-term treatment where the individual is taught skills on how to ease back into activities currently avoided because of anxiety. Symptoms ease when these skills become habitual and the individual continues to reclaim their life. 

Medications – often prescribed for general anxiety include: 

  • Antidepressants 
  • Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) 
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) 
  • Benzodiazepines 

 

Lifestyle changes – In addition to help you can get from a professional, certain lifestyle changes may also contribute to significant improvements in GAD symptoms, including: 

  • Modifying one’s lifestyle, such as cutting down or eliminating alcohol, smoking, and caffeine consumption 
  • Learning coping strategies 
  • Developing relaxation techniques 
  • Getting or staying active 
  • Getting the necessary amount of sleep 
  • Adopting a healthy diet with less processed food and more fruit and vegetables