Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): symptoms and treatment

What is GAD?

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a type of anxiety that can cause people to worry constantly about lots of different things, and find it very hard to relax or ‘switch off’. If you’re struggling with GAD, you might spend a lot of time worrying about anything from your physical health, the safety of your loved ones, and what other people think of you, right through to things like world politics and environmental issues. Sometimes, people with GAD are unable to articulate what they’re worried about, but just have a constant sense of unease that something bad is going to happen.

While it’s normal to feel anxious every now and then, people who struggle with GAD find that they tend to worry constantly about anything and everything, as opposed to having a particular trigger. This can go on for months or even years at a time. In addition, their worrying is out of proportion to the situation and very often, people with GAD actually recognise that there’s nothing to worry about, but they still can’t switch off their anxious thoughts.

Here, we explore the symptoms of GAD, provide some coping strategies for GAD and look at the many treatment options that are available. GAD can be a long-term condition that can interfere with lots of different areas of your life. However, it’s important to remember that it’s treatable and we can help you recover.

GAD symptoms

The symptoms of GAD can be very persistent and can prevent you from functioning effectively in your day-to-day life. Some of the most common symptoms of GAD include:

• Constantly feeling worried and on edge and feeling as though you’re unable to ‘switch off’ these feelings
• Worrying about lots of different things instead of just focusing on one main worry or category of worries
• Your sense of worry is excessive and out of proportion to any actual threat posed by the situation
• Feeling as though worrying has become part of your daily life
• Irritability and anger
• Restlessness
• Problems concentrating
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Physical symptoms of anxiety, including headaches, nausea, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, an increased heart rate, and panic attacks

Another core feature of GAD is an intolerance of uncertainty. This can cause people to feel distressed when they’re faced with ambiguity or ‘the unknown’. People with GAD often struggle with an overwhelming need for certainty and can find the unpredictability of life profoundly unsettling. This intolerance can affect lots of areas of their daily life, from decision making to planning for the future, and uncertainty can become a major trigger for anxiety. As a result, people with GAD may engage in constant reassurance-seeking or avoidance behaviours in order to reduce their discomfort. However, these coping mechanisms can often reinforce the cycle of anxiety.

Managing GAD

Coping with anxiety can seem impossible but there are a number of simple steps you can take to help you manage GAD:

• Exercise – even just getting out for a 10-minute walk each day can help
• Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water
• Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake and avoid recreational drugs
• Try to get enough sleep – it’s recommended that adults get at least 7 hours of sleep per night
• Relaxation techniques – this could be breathing techniques, meditation or yoga
• Speak to a trusted family member or friend about how you’re feeling – remember, it’s often said that a problem shared is a problem halved

While the above tips can help, GAD often needs professional treatment. That’s why it’s so important that you get the help you need. A good first step may be for you to make an appointment to see your GP. They’ll be able to evaluate your symptoms and either diagnose you with GAD themselves, or else refer you to a specialist psychiatrist for a further assessment. Our Priory psychiatrists, therapists and other mental health professionals have extensive experience in treating people with GAD and we’re here to help you every step of the way towards getting your life back on track.