A common mental health illness called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive, unrelenting worry about a variety of everyday situations. Unlike specialized phobias or panic disorders, which usually have identifiable triggers, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is not limited to a single worry or experience. Rather, it permeates a person’s daily existence, potentially upsetting their personal, academic, and professional lives.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 5.7% of adult Americans ^[1*] have had generalized anxiety disorder at some point in their life. Women are diagnosed with it more often than males since they are twice as vulnerable. It is acknowledged as a chronic illness that might last for many years or perhaps a lifetime, particularly in the absence of suitable therapy.

Signs and symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Adults with generalized anxiety disorder may exhibit a range of psychological, emotional, and physical symptoms. The primary indicator is persistent and severe anxiety over many aspects of life, including work, health, family, finances, and education. The anxiety is usually greater than the actual likelihood or effects of the circumstance causing the fear.

In addition to mental symptoms, people with GAD may also have a range of physical ones, such as:

These symptoms must cause significant discomfort or interfere with everyday activities for a minimum of six months in order to be officially diagnosed as GAD.

Differentiating Between GAD and Other Mental Health Conditions

Given that the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder might coincide with those of other mental health illnesses, diagnosing it can be challenging. This is a detailed comparison between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions.

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