People with generalized anxiety disorder tend to feel what?

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Prepare for the MCAT Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience a persistent state of worry and anxiety that is not confined to specific events or situations. Instead, they often feel anxious about multiple everyday issues, such as health, finances, work, and relationships. This chronic anxiety is characterized by excessive worry lasting for at least six months, which distinguishes it from other anxiety disorders where anxiety may be more situational or episodic.

This consistent feeling of tension is accompanied by physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances, but it does not typically involve panic attacks, which are more characteristic of panic disorder. Therefore, the recognition of anxiety in GAD as diffuse and pervasive across various aspects of life aligns perfectly with the description provided in the selected answer.