What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Generalized anxiety disorder represents a clinical diagnosis distinct from ordinary worry or stress. In GAD, anxiety becomes chronic and difficult to control, affecting how a person functions across work, relationships, and daily tasks. The condition must persist for at least six months to meet diagnostic criteria.

Core diagnostic features include excessive worry about multiple life domains-health, finances, relationships, work performance, or family matters-that the person finds hard to stop or manage. This worry occurs more days than not and is accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle tension, sleep disturbance, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or fatigue.

The key distinction from normal anxiety is both duration and intensity. Everyone experiences worry; GAD means the worry is disproportionate to actual circumstances, persists even when threats are unlikely, and creates measurable distress or impairment in functioning. The symptoms cannot be better explained by substance use, medical conditions, or other mental health disorders.

Diagnosis requires assessment by a qualified clinician. If you or someone close to you experiences persistent, uncontrollable worry alongside physical symptoms that disrupt daily life, consulting an adult psychiatry specialist can help clarify whether GAD or another condition is present and guide appropriate treatment options.