Quick read
Key points
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Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) involves persistent, excessive worry about a range of everyday things — health, work, relationships, or general life events — that is difficult to control and lasts most days for six months or more. It often comes with physical symptoms like restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
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Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
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Worry feels excessive, persistent, and hard to control across several areas of life
01 · Know
What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) involves persistent, excessive worry about a range of everyday things — health, work, relationships, or general life events — that is difficult to control and lasts most days for six months or more. It often comes with physical symptoms like restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
Unlike worry tied to a single specific fear, GAD tends to involve worry that shifts between different concerns. It responds well to treatment, particularly a combination of talking therapy and, for some people, medication.
02 · Understand
Clinical context
Worry in GAD often shifts between different topics
A defining feature of GAD is that the focus of worry often moves between different areas of life, rather than staying fixed on one specific fear, which helps distinguish it from other anxiety conditions.
03 · Act
When to Seek Help
- 1Worry feels excessive, persistent, and hard to control across several areas of life
- 2You experience physical symptoms like tension, restlessness, or fatigue alongside worry
- 3Anxiety is affecting your sleep, concentration, or daily functioning
- 4You'd like support exploring therapy or medication options
04 · Prevent & manage
Practical steps
Constant Reassurance-Seeking Can Reinforce Anxiety
While seeking reassurance can feel relieving in the moment, relying on it too often can reinforce anxious thought patterns over time — building tolerance for uncertainty, ideally with therapeutic support, tends to help more long-term.
- 1Practice relaxation techniques regularly.Progressive muscle relaxation or slow breathing exercises can help reduce the physical tension that often accompanies GAD.
- 2Set aside dedicated "worry time."Some people find it helpful to schedule a specific time to think through worries, rather than letting them intrude throughout the day.
- 3Limit caffeine intake.Caffeine can heighten physical anxiety symptoms like restlessness and a racing heart.
- 4Stay physically active.Regular exercise has a well-documented positive effect on anxiety levels.
- 5Consider CBT.Cognitive behavioural therapy has strong evidence for treating GAD and can be accessed through a GP referral.
Evidence
References
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
- HSE: Generalised anxiety disorder ↗
Medical information notice
Health education, not individual medical advice
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
BarnMD Bottom Line
Generalised anxiety disorder is common and responds well to treatment, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy.
A GP can discuss therapy and, if appropriate, medication options tailored to your specific symptoms.