Generalised Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms and Support
Generalised anxiety disorder, or GAD, is a condition defined by chronic worry about everyday things: money, health, family, work, and the small decisions in between. Unlike a specific phobia, there is no single trigger. The worry is diffuse, persistent and exhausting, and it shows up in the body as well as the mind. Understanding the full picture of GAD is the first step towards managing it well.
What GAD feels like
People with GAD often describe their mind as never being able to switch off. A single thought leads to another, and every decision feels loaded with possible catastrophe. The worry is recognised as excessive, yet it cannot simply be talked away. By the evening, the constant alertness has drained the day, and sleep is often the first casualty.
Physical and mental symptoms
The symptoms of GAD are both psychological and physical. Mentally, there is restlessness, poor concentration, irritability and a sense of dread. Physically, the body stays in a low-level state of alarm: tense muscles, headaches, a churning stomach, palpitations and shallow breathing. These symptoms feed each other, which is why GAD can feel like being stuck in a loop.
- Worrying excessively about several different areas of life
- Feeling restless, on edge or unable to relax
- Difficulty concentrating or a mind that goes blank
- Muscle tension, soreness or headaches
- Sleep problems, including trouble falling or staying asleep
Why worry becomes chronic
Worry in GAD is maintained by avoidance and by the belief that worry is protective. If a person believes that thinking about every possibility prevents bad outcomes, they keep worrying, even though the worry itself never resolves the uncertainty. Over time this becomes a habit the brain falls back on, particularly at times of stress or change.
How GAD is assessed
A GP will ask about how long the worry has been present, how often it occurs, and how it is affecting daily life. GAD is usually considered when worry has been present on more days than not for around six months and is hard to control. There are no tests for GAD itself, but your GP may arrange checks to rule out physical causes such as an overactive thyroid or other conditions that can mimic anxiety.
Support and treatment
The most effective treatment for GAD in the UK is cognitive behavioural therapy, either face to face or through an NHS online course. Guided self-help, relaxation training and regular exercise all have a supporting role. Some people are also offered medication such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which is always prescribed after a proper assessment by a GP or specialist. If you are offered any treatment, talk through the benefits, risks and timeline so you know what to expect.
The sleep connection
Anxiety and sleep problems feed each other, and GAD is no exception. Poor sleep makes the next day harder to cope with, which increases worry and the cycle continues. Improving sleep habits is one of the most practical things you can do while working on the worry itself, and we cover this in more depth in our guide to insomnia and anxiety.
Moving forward
GAD is treatable, and many people find that a structured approach, combining therapy with sensible self-care, brings their worry down to a manageable level. If you want to understand the wider family of anxiety conditions, start with our overview of anxiety disorders, and our guide to mental health support in the UK explains how to find the right kind of help.