Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Last reviewed Saturday, October 24, 2026Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is long-lasting, hard-to-control worry about many everyday things at once. Money, work, health and family can each take a turn, on most days for months, and the worry comes with restlessness, tense muscles and poor sleep. It’s common and treatable, with talking therapy, medicine or both.
Also called: generalized anxiety disorder (the US spelling); GAD; chronic worry.
Our anxiety guide covers tests and treatment in Nigeria in full; What Is Generalised Anxiety Disorder? is a short introduction.
Signs and symptoms
- Worry you can’t control, about several areas of life, on most days for at least six months
- Feeling restless or on edge, tiring easily, and finding it hard to concentrate
- Irritability, tense muscles and poor sleep
- A racing heart, sweating, an upset stomach or a dry mouth
- Seeking reassurance, or avoiding things, to keep the worry down
Causes
There’s rarely one cause. Genes, temperament, stressful or traumatic experiences and long-term pressure all play a part, and caffeine, alcohol and drugs can make it worse. It often starts in the early to mid 30s.
Treatment
NICE guidance starts with information and guided self-help. If that isn’t enough, the choice is CBT or applied relaxation, usually 12 to 15 weekly sessions, or an antidepressant such as an SSRI, prescribed by a doctor. In a 2024 review of 65 trials, CBT was the only therapy still ahead of usual care months after treatment ended. Sedatives aren’t recommended, except very briefly in a crisis.
In Nigeria
WHO’s diagnostic manual notes that in many cultures, body complaints such as dizziness or “heat in the head” can stand out more than the worry itself. Nigeria’s national survey in the early 2000s found GAD in far fewer people than the world average of about 4 in 100 over a lifetime; researchers think it’s an underestimate. Worrying about real money or safety problems isn’t a disorder in itself.
GAD vs everyday worry and panic disorder
Everyday worry is tied to a real problem and settles when it’s sorted. GAD spreads from one worry to the next and keeps going. Panic disorder means sudden attacks of intense fear, and dread of the next one.
When to get help
Talk to someone if worry is there most days, is hard to switch off, or is affecting your sleep, work or relationships. Our free anxiety screening test can be a start, though it isn’t a diagnosis. You can book a licensed therapist on Mytherapist.ng who works with anxiety and panic. Our therapists don’t prescribe, so see a doctor if you might need medicine.
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This entry is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.
