What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)? Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Generalized anxiety disorder is different from experiencing occasional moments of anxiety or worry from time to time. Individuals with GAD experience persistent worry even when there is little or no clear cause, which disrupts their day-to-day functioning.

Main symptom of GAD: Excessive worry

Generalized anxiety disorder is chiefly characterized by excessive worry about everyday concerns. Someone with GAD may experience this kind of excessive worry about several different activities and situations in their life, such as:

• Health 
• Finances 
• Work
• School
• Family members 

While occasional worry can be natural, for individuals with GAD, the worry they experience is persistent and out-of-proportion to the situation.

Other symptoms of GAD: Restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, and more

In addition to excessive worry, GAD can also involve a number of other symptoms, specifically: 

• Restlessness or trouble relaxing
• Being easily fatigued 
• Experiencing difficulty concentrating or your mind going blank
• Irritability 
• Muscle tension 
• Sleep disturbances (such as difficulty falling or staying asleep)

Other physical symptoms of GAD may include: 

• Shallow and rapid breathing
• Excess sweatin
• Trouble swallowing
• Dry mouth
• Upset stomach
• Headaches
• Unexplained aches and pains 

However these symptoms are not required in order to be diagnosed with the condition.

How symptoms impact daily life

With generalized anxiety disorder, symptoms like excessive worry, restlessness, and fatigue aren’t short-lived or slightly inconvenient. Rather, these symptoms are ongoing and significantly disruptive to a person’s life. 

In particular, the diagnostic criteria for GAD in adults, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR), specify that: 

• Excessive worry is ongoing. Excessive worry and anxiety occur more days than not for at least six months. 
• Worry is hard to control. The individual has difficulty trying to manage or control their worrying.
• Anxiety is associated with three or more accompanying, ongoing symptoms. Some of these associated symptoms detailed above (e.g., irritability, muscle tension, restlessness) have been present for most of the past six months. 
• Anxiety causes significant distress or impairment. Symptoms significantly disrupt important areas of functioning, such as school, work, or social life.
  

Finally, in order to meet the criteria for GAD, a person’s symptoms can’t be better explained by a substance, medication, or other medical condition or mental disorder.

Researchers are still trying to determine exactly what causes generalized anxiety disorder. However, while the exact cause is unknown, evidence suggests that several factors may play a role, including:

• Biological factors 
• Family background 
• Stressful or traumatic life experiences

Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder can be disruptive to a person’s life, but treatment can help. The main goal of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder is to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and improve functioning.  

For individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, treatments commonly include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of approaches. In addition to professional treatment, self-care strategies such as relaxation techniques and lifestyle changes can often be helpful. 

Therapy

For generalized anxiety disorder, a type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is generally considered to be the first-line, gold-standard treatment.  CBT employs education, self-monitoring, relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, exposure and relapse prevention.

In CBT, individuals can learn to identify unhelpful thought patterns, replace them with more helpful thoughts and behaviors, and incorporate healthy coping mechanisms to manage anxiety. Other types of talk therapy may also be helpful for GAD, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based approaches.

Talk therapy can take place in person or online, as both traditional in-person therapy and online therapy have been shown to be effective for anxiety. In addition, recent BetterHelp research found that 75% of BetterHelp clients with elevated anxiety symptoms showed improvement within 12 weeks. 

Medication

For some people with generalized anxiety disorder, medication may be helpful, whether on its own or in combination with talk therapy. Different types of medication may work for different people, but common options include: 

• Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the preferred form of medication.

• Anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines and buspirone are not the first choice for treatment due to potential side effects and the risk of dependence.

To learn more about medication for generalized anxiety disorder, talk to your doctor to discuss your options. If you’d prefer to explore psychiatric care virtually, BetterHelp offers affordable and accessible online psychiatry services.

*Based on finalized paid psychiatry visits with a copay. Insurance availability, coverage, and costs vary by state, plan, provider network, and provider availability.

Self-care strategies

In addition to professional treatment options, a number of self-care strategies and lifestyle changes may also be beneficial for individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. These can include: 

• Getting enough sleep 

• Exercising regularly

• Using relaxation techniques such as meditation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises

These strategies may not be sufficient on their own, but for many people with GAD, self-care approaches can be a helpful complement to professional treatment and an approachable first step. For instance, BetterHelp’s 2026 State of Stigma Report revealed that 39% of Americans feel pressure to handle mental health concerns on their own rather than seek professional help. 

If stigma is standing in the way of you getting help, starting with self-care strategies may help you find some initial relief. Professional support is available to help you manage your condition whenever you’re ready to take that step.

What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common mental health condition that is characterized by ongoing, excessive worry about everyday concerns; the worry is difficult to control and disrupts important areas of functioning, such as work, school, and relationships. GAD is a type of anxiety disorder.

What can cause generalized anxiety?

The exact cause of generalized anxiety disorder is unknown, but factors such as family background, genetics, biology, and stressful or traumatic life experiences may all play a role. 

Is generalized anxiety disorder a disability?

In some cases, generalized anxiety disorder may be considered a disability, but for the disorder to officially qualify as a disability, such as under the law in the United States, it must typically meet additional criteria beyond just a diagnosis. 

What does GAD feel like?

GAD may feel slightly different from one person to the next, but common generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include feeling overly worried about everyday concerns, feeling that your worries are difficult to manage or control, and feeling restless, irritable, and easily tired. Other symptoms can include difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and muscle tension.