Generalised anxiety disorder in adults

When to get help for anxiety

Although feelings of anxiety at certain times are completely normal, see your GP if anxiety is affecting your daily life or causing you distress.

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and your worries, fears and emotions to find out if you could have GAD.

Find out more about diagnosing GAD

What causes GAD?

The exact cause of GAD isn't fully understood, although it's likely that a combination of several factors plays a role.

Research has suggested that these may include:

• overactivity in areas of the brain involved in emotions and behaviour
• an imbalance of the brain chemicals serotonin and noradrenaline, which are involved in the control and regulation of mood
• the genes you inherit from your parents – you're estimated to be 5 times more likely to develop GAD if you have a close relative with the condition
• having a history of stressful or traumatic experiences, such as domestic violence, child abuse or bullying
• having a painful long-term health condition, such as arthritis
• having a history of drug or alcohol misuse

But many people develop GAD for no apparent reason.

Who's affected

GAD is a common condition, estimated to affect up to 5% of the UK population.

Slightly more women are affected than men, and the condition is more common in people from the ages of 35 to 59.

How GAD is treated

GAD can have a significant effect on your daily life, but several different treatments are available that can ease your symptoms.

These include:

• psychological therapies – you can get psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on the NHS; you don't need a referral from your GP and you can refer yourself: find a psychological therapies service in your area
• medication – such as a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

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

• going on a self-help course
• exercising regularly
• stopping smoking
• cutting down on the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink
• trying one of the mental health apps and tools in the NHS Apps Library

Find out how stopping smoking can improve your anxiety

With treatment, many people are able to control their anxiety levels. But some treatments may need to be continued for a long time and there may be periods when your symptoms worsen.

Read more about:

• treating GAD
• self-help tips for GAD