What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a variety of different topics, including work, health, and social interactions, for a duration of at least six months. Individuals with GAD often find it challenging to control their anxiety and may experience symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. Unlike specific phobias or social anxiety disorder, GAD does not involve panic attacks or focused fear on particular situations; instead, the worries are broad and often out of proportion to the actual situation.

This understanding emphasizes how GAD differs from other anxiety disorders that are defined by specific triggers or situations, such as fears of public speaking, which is indicative of social anxiety disorder, or specific objects, which align with specific phobias. The response to a traumatic event, as seen in post-traumatic stress disorder, also differs from the uninterrupted worry present in GAD. Thus, the description of constant worries about numerous issues without panic attacks accurately captures the essence of generalized anxiety disorder.