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Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

mental-health psychiatric
0 medicines 18 symptoms

Overview

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, like worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. It’s the main symptom of several conditions, including:

  • panic disorder
  • phobias
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

This page is about a specific condition called generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

What is generalised anxiety disorder?

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a long-term condition. It causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of issues, rather than 1 specific event.

People with GAD feel anxious most days. They often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. As soon as 1 anxious thought leaves, another may appear about a different issue.

Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam, or having a job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal.

But some people find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and often affect their daily lives.

Common Symptoms

Dry Mouth Dizziness Shortness of Breath Headache sick tiredness difficulty concentrating restlessness sense of dread constantly “on edge” irritability noticeably strong, fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations) muscle aches and tension trembling or shaking excessive sweating stomach ache pins and needles difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)

⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.

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Medicines Commonly Used

⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.

No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.

Causes

What causes generalised anxiety disorder?

Doctors don't fully understand why GAD develops. In most cases, several things seem to come together rather than any single cause. Some of the factors thought to play a role are:

  • unusual activity in the parts of the brain that handle emotions and behaviour
  • an imbalance in brain chemicals called serotonin and noradrenaline, which help control and regulate mood
  • genes passed down from your parents, since GAD tends to run in families and your risk is higher if a close relative has it
  • going through stressful or traumatic experiences in the past, such as domestic violence, abuse in childhood, or bullying
  • living with a painful, long-term health condition, such as arthritis
  • a past history of drug or alcohol misuse

That said, many people develop GAD without any clear or obvious reason.

Treatment

Treatment for generalised anxiety disorder

GAD can have a significant effect on your daily life. There are several different treatments available that can help. These include:

  • talking therapies – like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • medication – like a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

There are also many things you can do yourself to help reduce your anxiety, like:

  • trying a self-help course
  • exercising regularly
  • stopping smoking
  • cutting down on alcohol
  • drinking less caffeine

With treatment, many people are able to control their levels of anxiety. Some treatments may need to be continued for a long time. There may be periods where your symptoms worsen.

Self help for anxiety

Our mental health self-help guides are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). They’ve proven highly successful in helping people with anxiety and other mental health issues.

Daylight is a digital programme to improve anxiety based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It’s clinically proven to help people improve their anxiety symptoms by using it for just a few minutes each day.

You can use Daylight via the app for iOS and Android devices.

Contact support groups

Support groups can give you useful advice about how to manage your anxiety. They’re also a good way to meet other people with similar experiences.

Examples of support groups you may find useful include:

  • Anxiety UK
  • Mind
  • Rethink Mental Illness

Support groups can often arrange face-to-face meetings, where you can talk about your feelings with other people. Many support groups also provide support and guidance online, over the phone or in writing.

Ask your GP about local support groups for anxiety in your area. Or search Scotland Service Directory for mental health information and support services near you.

Referral to a specialist

If treatments you’ve tried aren’t helping, you may want to discuss with your GP whether you should be referred to a mental health specialist.

You’ll usually be referred to your community mental health team. These teams include a range of specialists, including:

  • psychiatrists
  • psychiatric nurses
  • clinical psychologists
  • occupational therapists
  • social workers

A mental health specialist will carry out a reassessment of your condition. They’ll ask you about your previous treatment and how effective you found it.

Your specialist will then be able to devise a treatment plan for you.

As part of this plan, you may be offered a treatment you’ve not tried before. Or you may be offered a combination of a psychological treatment with medication.

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