People suffering from General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can’t control their concerns, despite realising that much of their anxiety is unwarranted. People with GAD also seem unable to relax, and tend to have sleep difficulties, as well as suffer from concentration deficits, and may also suffer from depression.
Sufferers of GAD may also experience a range of associated physical symptoms of chronic stress, such as trembling, twitching, muscle tension, headaches, irritability, sweating, hot flashes, and feeling lightheaded or out of breath.
When their anxiety level is mild, people with GAD can function socially and hold down a job. Although they don’t avoid certain situations as a result of their disorder, people with GAD can experience difficulty with carrying out the simplest daily activities if their anxiety is severe.
Other anxiety disorders, depression, or substance abuse, may accompany GAD, as it rarely occurs alone. GAD is commonly treated with medication and/or psychotherapy, but co-occurring conditions must also be treated using the appropriate therapies.