Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment Learn how to identify the difference between everyday stress and GAD.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

Learn how to identify the difference between everyday stress and GAD.

An illustration of a person with their fist in front of their mouth. They look anxious. They are wearing a yellow shirt and have dark green hair.

Photo of Tim Becker, MD

Written by 

Tim Becker, MD.

Resident Physician, The Mount Sinai Hospital

Photo of Bobbi Wegner, PsyD

Medically reviewed by 

Bobbi Wegner, PsyD.

Lecturer in Human Development and Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Last updated September 8, 2022

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What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Symptoms

Causes

Risk factors

Next steps

Treatment

Children and generalized anxiety disorder

Care Plan

1

First steps to consider

It’s important to see a healthcare provider—either your primary care provider or a behavioral health provider (psychologist, social worker)—to get a diagnosis and set up a treatment plan.

Generalized anxiety disorder is often best treated with a combination of talk therapy, lifestyle changes, and medication.

See care providers

Emergency Care

Generalized anxiety disorder quiz

Take a quiz to find out if you have generalized anxiety disorder.

Take generalized anxiety disorder quiz

What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Everyone feels anxiety during stressful moments. But if you are overwhelmed by worry and feel anxious more often than not, you may have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems in the U.S.

GAD is defined as constant worrying—about both major and everyday events—for at least 6 months. It interferes with daily activities. You may have difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, fatigue, and irritability.

There may also be physical symptoms, like headaches, muscle tension, stomachaches, and body aches.

While anxiety may come and go throughout life, the symptoms of GAD tend to be more intense and chronic. But they can be managed through therapy and sometimes medication.