Signs and Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

As you navigate life’s stressors and challenges, it’s normal to experience some level of anxiety. People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), however, often feel excessive feelings of worry, dread, and fear regardless of the circumstances. This means people with GAD feel high levels of anxiety about smaller, everyday situations in addition to major stressors.¹

People with GAD may always be thinking of the “worst case scenario,” worrying about things that haven’t happened, and have some trouble calming their minds. Along with excessive worry, GAD can cause physical symptoms like muscle tension, stomachaches, and fatigue.¹

While the condition can develop in children, GAD often occurs during adulthood.¹ Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health condition, and about 6% of adults in the U.S. will experience GAD at some point in their lives. That’s why knowing the symptoms and understanding when to seek care can be so crucial.²³

Hallmark Symptoms

The hallmark symptom of generalized anxiety disorder is excessive worry that feels out of control. These feelings of worry aren’t always due to major life stressors. Rather, people with GAD feel excessive anxiety with everyday circumstances, such as job performance, chores, getting to appointments, and the well-being of friends and family.¹

GAD can cause you to feel anxious or dreadful no matter the actual circumstances. For example, someone with GAD may worry about their job security despite recently getting a good performance review or panic about running late for an appointment despite leaving the house on time. These feelings often interfere with your quality of life and ability to perform daily activities.¹

Emotional and Cognitive Symptoms

GAD affects how you think and feel about everyday circumstances, which may cause a variety of emotional (mood-related) and cognitive (thought-related) symptoms. These symptoms may include:¹  

• Racing and uncontrollable negative thoughts 
• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling nervous
• Difficulty relaxing or calming the mind
• Feeling “on edge”
• Getting startled easily
• Being tired often
• Having irritability

Physical Symptoms

It’s common to think that mental health conditions only cause symptoms that affect your brain. But, several mental health disorders—including GAD—can also affect your body. If you have GAD, you may also notice the following set of physical symptoms:¹

• Restlessness (having a hard time sitting still) 
• Headaches
• Muscle tension
• Stomachaches
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea
• Trouble swallowing 
• Twitching
• Excessive sweating  
• Feeling lightheaded
• Having to go to the bathroom frequently

Behavioral Symptoms

Because GAD affects your thoughts, mood, and body, it’s common for the condition to also alter your behavior. Some behavioral changes that GAD can cause include:⁴¹ 

• Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep 
• Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety 
• Procrastinating on important tasks 
• Changes in work and school performance 
• Skipping meals
• Conflicts in relationships
• Irritability

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Symptoms in Children

Childhood anxiety is common. In fact, about 1 in 4 children experience anxiety.³ While GAD is much more prevalent in adults, about 1% of children and 3% of adolescents experience anxiety so severe that they meet the criteria for GAD.⁵ Similar to adults, children with GAD experience persistent, daily worry about everyday tasks and future events. Children with GAD may often worry about:⁵¹ 

• Performance in school 
• Natural disasters 
• Being accepted in their friendships 
• The health and well-being of family members
• Their safety

Common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in children include:⁶⁵

• Difficulty performing daily tasks
• Trouble concentrating
• Getting upset easily 
• Changes in school performance
• Perfectionism
• Avoidance
• Body aches
• Sleep problems
• Clinging on to family members
• Restlessness

Symptoms in Men

People assigned female at birth are more likely to have a diagnosis for GAD than assigned males. But research suggests that anxiety disorders in men are often overlooked. Here are some ways GAD might manifest in males:⁷

• Experiencing mainly physical symptoms (headaches, pain, sweating, etc.) 
• Constantly trying to problem-solve the underlying cause of their anxiety
• Concealing their worries or keeping their feelings to themselves

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

It’s never too early to contact a mental healthcare provider if you believe excessive anxiety and worry are affecting your life or the life of your loved one. A provider will likely first rule out any physical causes of the symptoms you are experiencing. They may also use screening tools like the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7) to measure the severity of your anxiety. GAD also commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions like depression and panic disorder.³

It’s especially important to see a healthcare provider if:³  

• The excessive anxiety and worry lasts more than six months
• Your work, school performance, or relationships are becoming negatively affected
• You’re noticing depression symptoms (loss of interest in hobbies, changes in sleep, appetite loss, etc.) in addition to anxiety
• You start experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Questions to Ask Your Provider

If you decide to seek professional support for symptoms of GAD, consider asking your healthcare provider the following questions:

• What are some coping skills I can use to help me manage my anxiety?
• Will I need therapy or medications to keep my symptoms at bay?
• What can I do to manage the physical symptoms of anxiety?
• How will we monitor the progress of my symptoms?
• If I receive a diagnosis, what will my treatment plan look like?

A Quick Review

People with GAD feel excessive feelings of worry, dread, and fear regardless of the circumstances—making even small, everyday tasks feel anxiety-provoking. Common symptoms of GAD include racing thoughts, trouble relaxing, and poor concentration. People with GAD commonly experience physical symptoms, including headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, and unexplained pain.¹ It’s important to see a mental healthcare provider if anxiety symptoms start interfering with your work, school, or relationships.³