Generalised anxiety disorder
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect you both physically and mentally.
How severe the symptoms are varies from person to person. Some people have only one or two symptoms, while others have many more.
You should see your GP if anxiety is affecting your daily life or is causing you distress.
GAD can cause a change in your behaviour and the way you think and feel about things, resulting in symptoms such as:
Your symptoms may cause you to withdraw from social contact (seeing your family and friends) to avoid feelings of worry and dread.
You may also find going to work difficult and stressful, and may take time off sick. These actions can make you worry even more about yourself and increase your lack of self-esteem.
GAD can also have a number of physical symptoms, including:
If you're anxious because of a specific phobia or because of panic disorder , you'll usually know what the cause is.
For example, if you have claustrophobia (fear ofconfined spaces) , you know that being confined in a small space will trigger your anxiety.
However, if you have GAD, it may not always be clear what you're feeling anxious about. Not knowing what triggers your anxiety can intensifyit and you may start to worry that there's no solution.
Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. However, some people find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect you both physically and mentally. You should see your GP if anxiety is affecting your daily life or is causing you distress.
Seeyour GP if anxiety is affecting your daily life or is causing you distress.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a long-term condition, but a number of different treatments can help
If you have generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), there are many ways to help ease the symptoms of anxiety yourself, including exercise, avoiding smoking and caffeine, and doing a self-help course.