Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Those diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have excessive anxiety and worry about a variety of topics that lasts for at least six months. The anxiety, worry and other associated symptoms make it hard to carry out day-to-day responsibilities and result in problems in functioning. The worry is experienced as very challenging to control.

The anxiety and worry are accompanied by at least three of the following physical or cognitive symptoms (in children, only one of these symptoms is necessary for a diagnosis of GAD):

• Edginess or restlessness
• Tiring easily
• Impaired concentration
• Irritability
• Increased muscle aches
• Difficulty sleeping

Sometimes the symptoms of GAD can happen as a side effect of a medicine or of substance abuse. It can also be linked to health conditions, stress or chronic illness.