An anxiety disorder is a common mental illness defined by feelings of uneasiness, worry and fear. While anxiety occurs for everyone sometimes, a person with an anxiety disorder feels an inappropriate amount of anxiety more often than is reasonable. For example, an average individual may feel some anxiety before going to a dentist appointment but a person with anxiety disorder may feel anxiety every time they leave their home.

Many people with an anxiety disorder do not realize they have a defined, treatable disorder and so anxiety disorders are thought to be underdiagnosed conditions. (Take our anxiety disorder test)

People with an anxiety disorder often have co-occurring mental health problems, such as depression, and this can increase serious risks like suicide. Often severe anxiety disorder symptoms and panic attacks are a warning sign and increase the risk of suicide.

What are Anxiety Disorders Symptoms?

Specific symptoms vary by type of anxiety disorder, but typically, anxiety disorders are defined by:

• Feelings of being on edge or restlessness
• Feelings of being fearful or powerless
• Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, sweating or heart palpitations
• A sense of doom or impending danger
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
• Irritability
• Sleep disturbances

The definition of an anxiety disorder also includes an impairment of day-to-day functioning. A person with an anxiety disorder often experiences a significantly reduced quality of life and anxiety disorders are associated with possibly fatal heart conditions.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Several types of anxiety disorders are identified in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).¹

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Panic disorder
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Agoraphobia
• Social phobia, also referred to as social anxiety disorder
• Specific phobia (also known as a simple phobia)
• Adjustment disorder with anxious features
• Acute stress disorder
• Substance-induced anxiety disorder
• Anxiety due to a general medical condition

Social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder and typically manifests before the age of 20. Specific, or simple phobias – such as a fear of snakes – are also very common with more than one-in-ten people experiencing a specific phobia in their lifetime.

Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Anxiety disorder treatment is typically in the form of psychotherapy and is sometimes combined with medication. Anxiety disorders often occur with other disorders such a substance use disorder, so anxiety disorder treatment often includes the treatment for those disorders as well. Education about mental illness, anxiety disorders in particular, and lifestyle changes are often crucial to the success of anxiety disorder treatment.

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Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is intense anxiety associated with social or performance-related situations. Social anxiety disorder is more than just social anxiety: When a feared situation is encountered, a person with social anxiety disorder will experience panic-like symptoms. The good news is there is treatment for social phobia that works and many learn how to manage their symptoms. (If you are concerned about having SAD, take our social anxiety disorder test. Social phobia help info here.)

Social Anxiety Disorder Facts

Social anxiety disorder is a mental illness and is defined in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It may occur in any age group and affects more women than men. Mutism, an inability or unwillingness to speak in certain situations, can accompany social anxiety disorder but this is more often seen in children. The illness is also considered a precursor to agoraphobia; where the phobic symptoms are often generalized to many, if not all, public spaces.¹

About 9% of youth and 12% of adults experience social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. It commonly occurs with other types of anxiety disorders, depression, and substance use disorders. It also frequently occurs in autistic spectrum disorders.

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety is very common and is the feeling of fear and anxiety associated with social situations. People with social anxiety are typically afraid of public embarrassment. Someone with social anxiety may experience distress related to:²

• Public speaking
• Eating publically
• Using public restrooms
• Meeting new people

Social anxiety may be specific to a single situation, such as meeting new people, developing relationships, or generalized to social situations overall. Simply experiencing social anxiety though doesn't mean you have social anxiety disorder or a social phobia.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder, aka social phobia, is considered a phobic disorder - a type of anxiety disorder. Social anxiety becomes a disorder when the symptoms rise to the level that meets the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-IV-TR. Part of this diagnosis means that the symptoms of social anxiety are so severe as to markedly impact day-to-day activities.

Some of the symptoms of social anxiety disorder include:³

• Fear of situations in which you might be judged
• Worrying about being embarrassed or humiliated
• Worry that interferes with work, school or home life
• Avoiding the things that bring anxiety

People with social anxiety disorder experience fear or anxiety that is out of proportion with the situation. People with social phobia fear this anxiety and are highly distressed by it. Severe performance anxiety, such as when taking a test, is another form of social phobia.

While no one knows what causes social anxiety disorder, it often begins after a person with a history of shyness has a particularly humiliating experience in public.

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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an illness that occurs after a trauma in which there is physical harm or the threat of physical harm. Posttraumatic stress disorder is a mental illness: An anxiety disorder. Posttraumatic stress symptoms occur for more than one month and typically develop within three months of the traumatic event, although in some cases there is a greater delay. If posttraumatic stress exists for less than one month, acute stress disorder may be diagnosed.

What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Like?

Posttraumatic stress disorder can be crippling as PTSD symptoms creep into everyday life. A person with PTSD may be feeling fine one moment, and a few minutes later they're suddenly reliving the traumatic event while on the bus on the way to work. This may lead to anxiety symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, and shortness of breath. By the time the person with PTSD gets to work, their anxiety level may be so high that the slightest noise can make them jump or even scream.

Posttraumatic stress disorder affects 7.7 million adult Americans and a significant number of children live with PTSD as well. One study found that 3.7% of adolescent boys and 6.3% of adolescent girls had posttraumatic stress disorder. Women typically experience more trauma than men, particularly owing to sexual assaults, and so the number of women with PTSD is much higher than that of men (PTSD Statistics And Facts).

With help, the prognosis of posttraumatic stress disorder is positive. On average, those who receive treatment for PTSD experience symptoms for 36 months as compared to 64 months for those who do not receive help.¹ However, for some, PTSD lasts much, much longer. Treatment can include therapy, medications and PTSD support groups.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Definition

Several criteria must be met in order to be diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder; the PTSD definition contains six parts.

1. Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event where there is a physical threat; a response of helplessness and fear
2. Re-experiencing of the event
3. Avoidance of anything related to the event; inability to remember parts of the event; detachment from others; reduced visible emotion; a sense of a shortened life
4. Sleep problems; decreased concentration; always searching for possible dangers; anger; exaggerated response when startled
5. Symptoms lasting more than one month
6. Impairment of functioning due to symptoms

If you're concerned that you might have post-traumatic stress disorder, take our PTSD test.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children

Posttraumatic stress may also be experienced by children, although it may be experienced slightly differently. Young children may show posttraumatic stress reactions similar to reactive attachment disorder and are strongly affected by their parent's response to the stress.

Children, age 6-11, are more likely to withdraw or become disruptive. Posttraumatic stress disorder may also cause these children physical pain (such as stomach aches) without any medical cause. Children may also relive the trauma through repetitive play.

Children, age 12-17, have PTSD symptoms similar to adults.

See PTSD in Children: Symptoms, Causes, Effects, Treatments

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Military

Posttraumatic stress disorder is common in the military with 30% of those who spend time in a combat zone developing the disorder. Unfortunately, those in the military are less likely than average to get help for PTSD as they feel, mistakenly, that it is a sign of personal weakness. Those in the military also fear a negative impact on their career if they get help for posttraumatic stress disorder. A person does not have to be involved directly in a casualty-related event in order to develop PTSD. For some, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) or any training or combat zone activity can be traumatic.

See PTSD: A Big Problem for Military Soldiers in War Zones

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Phobias are a very common type of anxiety disorder. Broadly speaking, the definition of phobia is: Unreasonable fear and anxiety around a specific object or situation, generally causing its complete avoidance.

Phobic disorders are the most common type of mental illness – more common than even depression. Social phobia is a common type of anxiety disorder. The effects of a phobia can range from minor and annoying to severe and debilitating.

A person with a phobia may avoid an object, such as snakes, or be compelled to avoid situations, like all social events or events involving crowds. A person with a severe phobia can end up with a life dictated by avoiding the objects or situations they fear. This can impact their ability to make friends or keep a job.

There are several theories as to the causes of phobias; however, no cause has yet conclusively been identified. The cause of phobias likely also varies depending on the type of phobia. Phobias, very commonly, occur alongside other anxiety disorders including other phobias.

What are the Types of Phobias?

According to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) phobia definitions can be broken down into three categories:¹

• Social phobia (now called social anxiety disorder) – more than just shyness, social phobia involves the crippling fear of being humiliated or embarrassed in social situations. This might be while public speaking or using public restrooms, for example.
• Specific (or simple) phobia – extreme and persistent fear of an object or situation. A phobia of snakes or of being in elevators are examples. Read our list of phobias, including funny and weird phobias.
• Agoraphobia – a fear of being in situations in which it would be difficult or embarrassing to leave or get help in the event of a panic attack. Agoraphobia might occur on public transit or on a bridge.

The National Comorbidity Survey indicates the lifetime prevalence of each type of phobia is as follows:

• Social phobia – 13.3%
• Specific phobias – 11.3%
• Agoraphobia – 6.7%

What is the Treatment of Phobias?

Treatment of phobias varies depending on phobia type; however, both medication and therapy can help phobic disorders. Most people respond positively to phobia treatment and experience a dramatic reduction in phobia symptoms. People with phobias who enter treatment find they can again face their feared object or situation without severe anxiety.

Simple phobias respond best to treatment while social phobias may be difficult to treat due to a noticeable lack of interpersonal skills. However, with support, education and treatment adherence, social phobias too can be treated.

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Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by multiple panic attacks and the fear surrounding these attacks. About 1.5% - 5% of adults will experience panic disorder at some point in their lives and 3% - 5.6% of people will have to deal with a panic attack. Panic disorder is diagnosed only when a person has had multiple panic attacks for more than a period of one month. (If you're concerned you may have panic disorder, take our panic disorder test.)

Panic disorder begins with a single panic attack, but this one attack can produce so much fear it can create others. Imagine being uncomfortable in elevators your whole life, but one day that changes from not just being uncomfortable, but to being physically and mentally ill due to being in an elevator. Your chest tightens, your breathing becomes shallow and you feel like you're being strangled. Little by little you become surer that you are going to die in that elevator. By the time the door opens on your floor, you are shaking, sweating and those around you fear for your health.

Most people don't recognize this as a panic attack and instead, end up in the emergency room with fears they've had a heart attack.

Panic disorder often occurs in people who have previously experienced lower levels of anxiety. It normally develops between the ages of 18-45 and commonly occurs with other illnesses like depression as well as:¹

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (a lung disorder)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Migraine headache
• Restless leg syndrome
• Fatigue
• Heart disorders

Panic Disorder and Other Anxiety Disorders

Panic disorder also often accompanies other types of anxiety disorders like:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Specific phobias
• Social phobia
• Agoraphobia

People with panic disorder have a 4-14 times greater chance of substance abuse than the general population and the rate of suicide among those with panic disorder is also many times higher.

Understanding Panic Attacks

One of the key components of panic disorder is the panic attack. A panic attack is an intense period of fear and anxiety that develops very quickly and peaks within ten minutes of starting. In order to be diagnosed as a panic attack, the symptoms must not be related to substance use or another illness.

The latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines a panic attack as 4 (or more) of the following 13 symptoms:

• Palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Feeling of shortness of breath or smothering
• Feeling of choking
• Chest pain
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded or faint
• Feeling detached from oneself (derealization)
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Fear of dying
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Chills or hot flashes

During a panic attack, the patient often thinks and feels they are dying and often has an urge to flee.

Panic attacks may occur with or without an identifiable trigger. When an identifiable trigger is found, a specific phobia, rather than panic disorder, is often diagnosed. Panic attack treatment comes in the form of medication and therapy.

DSM Panic Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

If multiple panic attacks have occurred for longer than a month, a person may have panic disorder. To meet the DSM panic disorder diagnostic criteria, the patient must experience persistent worry about having a future attack or the consequences of a panic attack, or there must be significant behavioral changes because of the panic attacks.

The diagnosis requires that four (or more) panic attacks must occur within a four-week period or at least one panic attack has occurred, followed by at least one month of fear of another attack.

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Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is available and effective. Generalized anxiety disorder treatment consists of medication, therapy and lifestyle changes. Often when GAD treatments are applied together, they have the best chance of success.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental illness characterized by unreasonable and persistent worries and anxiety unrelated to a particular place or experience. While 4% - 7% of people will experience generalized anxiety disorder symptoms at some point in their lives, the prognosis, with proper GAD treatment, is fair to excellent.

Medications for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Medications are commonly used in generalized anxiety disorder treatment, both in the short and long term. Medications for GAD include:¹

• Antidepressants – the most common drug choice to treat GAD. Antidepressants modulate some of the chemicals in the brain like serotonin. Typically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used due to their low risk of side effects and efficacy rate. Common antidepressants used for GAD include paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and venlafaxine (Effexor). Antidepressants are taken for long-term treatment of GAD.
• Anti-anxiety - buspirone (BuSpar) is an anti-anxiety medication also used longer-term in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
• Benzodiazepines – these are sedatives (tranquilizers) typically used for short-term management of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. These medications for GAD are designed to treat acute symptoms but may have the risk of dependence in the long term. Examples of common benzodiazepines include: lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax).

Other medications may also be prescribed to treat GAD. All medication treatments for generalized anxiety disorder carry the risk of side effects.

Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown very effective in the treatment of anxiety in placebo-controlled trials. In children with mild generalized anxiety disorder, CBT has been shown to be as effective as medications. CBT with medications for generalized anxiety disorder often works better than either treatment alone.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for GAD consists of at least 12 sessions, one session per week. This type of therapy for generalized anxiety disorder focuses on:²

• Self-reward
• Problem-solving
• Identifying and understanding faulty thinking
• Modifying faulty thinking and behavior

CBT helps people with GAD to control their worry. Other types of therapy that may help in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder include:

• Assertiveness training
• Psychodynamic (talk) therapy
• Mindfulness
• Play therapy (for children)
• Art therapy

Lifestyle Changes Help Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Treatment

In addition to medication and therapy, lifestyle changes can also help treat generalized anxiety disorder. Some lifestyle changes that may prove helpful in GAD treatment include:

• Relaxation exercises
• Massage
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Exercise and a healthy diet

To improve your chances of recovering from generalized anxiety disorder:

• Get educated – learn about GAD, your personal stressors and new ways to deal with them.
• Focus on a quality therapeutic relationship – the relationship between you and your therapist is important.
• Get experienced treatment providers – find a therapist and doctor familiar with treating generalized anxiety disorder.
• Decrease life stressors
• Increase your support network

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It is not fully understood what causes generalized anxiety disorder. It's thought that differences in brain structure and brain chemicals may be part of the cause of GAD. Likely, a combination of genetics, personality and the environment form the cause of generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder is a common anxiety disorder characterized by exaggerated and persistent worries and fears in everyday life. People with GAD can become so anxiety-ridden that they retreat from most activities.

Neurological Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

It is thought differences in the following neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) play a role in causing GAD:

• Serotonin
• Dopamine
• Norepinephrine
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

It is these chemicals that are altered by antidepressants, some of which are effective treatments for generalized anxiety disorder. Abnormal levels of other chemicals, like peptides and hormones, may also partially cause generalized anxiety disorder.

MRI scans have revealed that some structures of the brain are changed in some anxiety disorders.

Impaired cognitive functioning also appears to be tied to generalized anxiety disorder in both children and adults.

Psychological Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

While the physical causes of GAD are extremely challenging to study, psychologists have done work to try to tie together neurology and psychology.

Using a functional MRI scan, it was found that people with GAD show greater activation in certain regions of the brain when confronted with situations to which an average person would not react with anxiety. For example, a situation where a person accidentally chokes on, and spits up, their host's food would not normally cause anxiety for a person, but the brains of those with GAD show evidence of anxiety.

The underlying cause of GAD in this situation is thought to be a heightened fear of social disapproval. Healthy individuals only show increased brain activation levels when confronted with intentional transgressions, which are considered to be more significant stressors as they challenge the social hierarchy.

Causes of GAD in Childhood

The highest risk group for developing generalized anxiety disorder is adolescents. It's thought the causes of generalized anxiety disorder may begin in childhood.

Anxiety disorders may be passed down not only by genetics but also by the behavior children see in the adults around them. Part of the cause of GAD is that of a learned, exaggerated, fear response shown by those who grew up with parental figures who exhibited anxious behaviors.

Other causes of generalized anxiety disorder that may occur in childhood include:

• Early traumatic experiences such as a parent's death
• Chronic experiences of fear
• Chronic feelings of helplessness
• Abnormal hormones, possibly due to stress, prenatally

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A generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) test can help pinpoint the behaviors and thoughts that may indicate generalized anxiety disorder. GAD can be difficult to spot, even though up to 7% of people will experience chronic anxiety in their lifetime. Use this generalized anxiety disorder quiz as a starting point to screen for symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in yourself.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Quiz Instructions

Answer the following GAD test questions either yes or no, as honestly as possible. See the bottom of the generalized anxiety disorder quiz for how to interpret the results.

GAD Test Questions

1. Are you troubled by the following?

Excessive worry, occurring more days than not, for a least six months

Yes No

Unreasonable worry about events or activities, such as work, school, or your health

Yes No

The inability to control the worry

Yes No

2. Are you bothered by at least three of the following?

Restlessness, feeling keyed-up, or on edge

Yes No

Being easily tired

Yes No

Problems concentrating

Yes No

Irritability

Yes No

Muscle tension

Yes No

Trouble falling or staying asleep, or restless and unsatisfying sleep

Yes No

Your anxiety interfering with your daily life

Yes No

Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Depression and substance abuse are among the conditions that occasionally complicate anxiety disorders.

3. Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

Yes No

4. More days than not, do you feel

Sad or depressed?

Yes No

Disinterested in life?

Yes No

Worthless or guilty?

Yes No

5. During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs...

Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No

Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No

Gotten you arrested?

Yes No

Continued despite causing problems for you or your loved ones?

Yes No

GAD Test Results

On the GAD test, count the number of times you answered yes. The greater the calculated score, the greater the chance you have generalized anxiety disorder. If you feel you may have GAD or another disorder, take this generalized anxiety disorder quiz and your answers to a doctor for a clinical assessment.

Remember, only a doctor or qualified mental health professional can make a diagnosis.

See Also:

• What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
• Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Symptoms of Severe Anxiety Feel Very Scary
• I Need Mental Help: Where to Find Mental Health Help 

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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms are more than just simple worry. Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms are related to distress and anxiety but are persistent, excessive and often out-of-control.

Some 6.8 million adults live with the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, making it one of the most common mental illnesses. To be diagnosed with GAD, a person must have exaggerated worries about everyday life for more than six months.

For example, a person with GAD may worry they will not be able to pay the mortgage each month, in spite of having a regular income. To this person, the idea of missing a mortgage payment brings about physical feelings of illness and tension, like fatigue and edginess.

Another person with a generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis may constantly worry about the safety of their family. When their spouse leaves for work, a person with GAD might be sick with worry that they will not come home again. They may worry daily their children will be kidnapped or hurt.

(Wondering if you have GAD. Take our generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) test.)

Diagnostic Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Symptoms

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms used for diagnosis are defined in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). The symptoms of GAD are seen in children, teens, and adults although their diagnostic criteria are slightly different.

For a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, an adult must show both of these symptoms while a child need only show one:¹

• Excessive anxiety and worry on most days for more than six months; must affect a variety of different events or activities
• Difficulty controlling the worry

In addition, three symptoms from the following list must be seen in adults, while only one needs to be present in children for a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder:

• Restlessness or feeling "on edge"
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating / mind going blank
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Sleep disturbance

For a diagnosis of GAD, the symptoms must significantly impact a person's life and not be better explained by a different anxiety disorder (see list of anxiety disorders), other mental illness or substance use.

Other Signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

While the above criteria are used to diagnose GAD, other signs are also common in people with generalized anxiety disorder. These additional signs of GAD may be disorder-related or are known to commonly occur with the disorder.

Signs of generalized anxiety disorder include:²

• Trembling
• Feeling twitchy or are easily startled
• Sweating
• Nausea / diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heart rate
• Another chronic health problem
• Excessive stress
• Substance use

Signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children

Children and adolescents can experience all the same symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, but other signs may also be present. For example, the worries of a child may be different than the worries of an adult. A young person may be worried about school, sports, punctuality or catastrophic events like an earthquake.

Other signs of generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents include:

• Anxiety and obsession about fitting in
• Desire to be perfect; redoing work that isn't considered perfect
• Lack of confidence
• Approval-seeking; requiring repeated reassurance about performance
• Rigid behavior

Children who have endured abuse or trauma or have witnessed trauma are most likely to develop generalized anxiety disorder.

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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is anxiety and worry that is excessive (chronic anxiety), unrealistic and often feels out of control. Keep in mind, it's normal for everyone to experience worry, particularly when life is stressful. However, when excessive worry, anxiety and physical symptoms like heart palpitations start to negatively impact day-to-day functioning, this can be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

(Concerned you might have GAD? Take our GAD test.)

Example of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Like many people, a person with generalized anxiety disorder might start their day worrying about getting their children off to school, on time and with a good breakfast. But someone with GAD may think that without this task going perfectly, their child won't be able to succeed at school - ever. The person with GAD may then spend hours throughout the day worrying about money and family security and feel sure that something bad is going to happen to a loved one. More worries might then keep the person pacing at night, unable to fall asleep. In spite of reassurances from others, the next day, the cycle starts all over.

GAD Crosses All Populations

Generalized anxiety disorder, also known simply as GAD, is a mental illness that effects between 4% - 7% of people over the course of their lifetime. An additional 4% of people may experience anxiety symptoms to a lesser extent. Generalized anxiety disorder is twice as common among women as among men. GAD occurs in children, adolescents and adults.¹

Generalized anxiety disorder is known to be as negatively impacting on people's lives as other serious mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Criteria

While many people with anxiety disorders experience anxiety in association with specific events or situations, GAD is different in that the anxiety can be overwhelming throughout life in general. The generalized anxiety disorder criteria are similar to that of other anxiety disorders, but the symptoms can appear at any place or time and sometimes without apparent reason.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder include psychological symptoms, like an inability to control worry, as well as physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue and muscle tension. (Learn about the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.)

Generalized anxiety disorder often occurs alongside other anxiety disorders such as panic disorder or a phobic disorder. Other types of mental illness, including mood and substance use disorders along with sleep disorders, also commonly occur with GAD.

Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Like with many mental illnesses, the exact causes of generalized anxiety disorder are not known but effective treatments have been identified. Treatments for generalized anxiety disorder include:

• Medications – antidepressants, sedatives and anti-anxiety medication may all be prescribed for GAD.
• Therapy – multiple types of therapy such as psychodynamic (talk) therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help GAD.
• Lifestyle changes – relaxation, diet and exercise, quality sleep and avoiding alcohol can all help reduce generalized anxiety disorder symptoms.

You can find detailed information on generalized anxiety disorder treatment here.

Outlook for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Treatment

People with generalized anxiety disorder generally have a fair to excellent chance at recovery. Not all therapies work for all people though, so multiple techniques may have to be tried before the right one is found. Factors that help improve the chances of successful GAD recovery include:

• Education about GAD
• Quality therapy
• Access to quality healthcare (such as a psychiatrist)
• Treatment of any co-occurring disorders

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