Home /

Quick Facts: Mental Health Disorders /

Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders /

... /

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) /

What is generalized anxiety disorder?

What are the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder?

How can doctors tell if I have generalized anxiety disorder?

How do doctors treat generalized anxiety disorder?

Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders

Overview of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

Phobic Disorders (Phobias)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a group of cancers that develop in white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Although there are more than 50 different disorders that can be called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, doctors sometimes group them into two broad categories: indolent lymphomas and aggressive lymphomas. Which of the following is characteristic of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas?

Lack of a cure with standard therapies
Variable periods of remission
Rapid progression of lymphoma if left untreated
Rapid response to many treatments

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Q: What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Anxiety is being worried or nervous. Anxiety is often normal. For example, many people are anxious when they're having money problems, trouble at work, or family difficulties. However, if you're anxious a lot of the time even when you aren't having problems or the problems aren't bad, then you have an anxiety disorder . There are many types of anxiety disorders. If you're anxious about only one particular thing, such as being in a crowd, you may have a phobia . If most of the time you don't feel anxious but sometimes suddenly become panicked, you may have a panic disorder . Generalized anxiety disorder is when you're anxious or worried about a number of different things. Generalized anxiety disorder is common, particularly in women You feel anxious about a variety of issues, activities, and situations You worry more than the situation requires Medicines and therapy can help

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Feb 2021| Content last modified Feb 2021

Click here for the Professional Version

Get the full details

Anxiety is being worried or nervous. Anxiety is often normal. For example, many people are anxious when they're having money problems, trouble at work, or family difficulties. However, if you're anxious a lot of the time even when you aren't having problems or the problems aren't bad, then you have an anxiety disorder.

There are many types of anxiety disorders. If you're anxious about only one particular thing, such as being in a crowd, you may have a phobia. If most of the time you don't feel anxious but sometimes suddenly become panicked, you may have a panic disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder is when you're anxious or worried about a number of different things.

Generalized anxiety disorder is common, particularly in women
You feel anxious about a variety of issues, activities, and situations
You worry more than the situation requires
Medicines and therapy can help

If you have generalized anxiety disorder, you:

Feel constantly worried or upset over many everyday things (such as family, work, or money)
Have a hard time controlling your worry
Feel worried or nervous most days for at least 6 months

You also have at least 3 of these symptoms:

Feeling keyed up or on edge
Easily get tired
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Tense muscles
Poor sleep

Doctors will ask about your anxiety and physical symptoms and do a physical exam. They may do a blood test to rule out other causes for your symptoms.

Doctors treat generalized anxiety disorder with medicines and therapy sessions.

Medicines may include:

Antidepressants
Antianxiety medicines

A therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you learn to:

Recognize when your thinking is incorrect
Control your incorrect thinking
Change your behavior

Your doctor may also recommend mind-body techniques such as:

Relaxation
Yoga
Meditation
Exercise
Biofeedback techniques

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: Click here for the Professional Version

Click here for the Professional Version

Overview of Anxiety Disorders

Was This Page Helpful?

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

Overview of Anxiety Disorders

Overview of Anxiety Disorders in Children

Merck and the Merck Manuals

Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Merck Manual was first published in 1899 as a service to the community. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Manual outside of North America. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

TOP