Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Adults: What to Know

What are the causes?

The cause of GAD isn't known, but it happens because of how your brain works.

When we feel stressed or in danger, part of the nervous system gets ready to act. This causes the brain to make chemicals called neurotransmitters.

These chemicals move through the body and bring on the feelings we have before big events or changes. This reaction is called the fight-or-flight response.

When your body is often in a state of fight-or-flight, you can start to have more serious symptoms. These can impact your daily life.

What increases the risk?

You may be more likely to have GAD if:

• You've gone through very stressful times in your life.

• You face a lot of stress at home.

• Someone else in your family has:

  • Anxiety.

  • Depression. This is feeling sad or hopeless.

• You tend to be shy or nervous.

What are the signs or symptoms?

If you have GAD, you may:

• Worry a lot about things, like work, money, health, or your family.

• Get scared easily or feel jumpy.

• Feel nervous.

• Feel cranky or grumpy.

• Have trouble focusing or feel like your mind goes blank.

You may also:

• Feel like your heart is pounding or racing.

• Feel out of breath or like you can't take a deep breath.

• Feel like you're going to throw up or have to poop.

• Sweat a lot.

• Feel shaky and twitchy.

• Have headaches.

• Feel tired all the time.

• Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

These feelings can be overwhelming and make you feel out of control. If this is true for you, you may want to see a health care provider.

How is this diagnosed?

GAD may be diagnosed based on your symptoms and an exam.

Your provider may also do a check-up and tests, like blood tests. These are done to check your health and look for other problems that could be causing your symptoms.

Your provider will also ask about:

• Your medical and mental health history.

• Your family's medical and mental health history.

• Any medicines, herbs, or supplements you take.

• Substance use. For instance, they may ask if you use substances, what you use, how often, and how much.

How is this treated?

GAD may be treated with:

• Medicine.

• Talk therapy with a counselor.

• Learning coping skills, such as:

  • Meditation.

  • Deep breathing.

  • Spending time in nature.

  • Doing things that help you relax.

In most cases, all of these are used to treat GAD.

Follow these instructions at home:

Activity

• Try to keep a daily routine.

• Try to change negative thoughts to positive ones.

• Do things that help you feel calm, like:

  • Relaxing your muscles.

  • Yoga.

  • Coloring or drawing.

• Do things you like or that are fun for you, such as:

  • Reading.

  • Listening to music.

• Spend time with supportive people.

General instructions

• Take your medicines only as told.

• Limit caffeine use or do not use it at all.

• Get enough sleep. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day.

Where to find support

For support, you can reach out to:

• Your provider.

• A mental health expert, like a therapist or counselor.

Even though anxiety is a normal part of life, it doesn't have to control your life. Talk to your provider or counselor if you have questions or concerns about anxiety, treatment, or coping, or if you need help finding support.

Where to find more information

To learn more, go to:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at nami.orgopens in new tab/window.

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at nimh.nih.govopens in new tab/window.

  1. Click "Search" and type "help for mental illnesses."

  2. Find the link you need.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your symptoms don't get better or they get worse.

• You have new symptoms that worry you.

Get help right away if:

• You hurt yourself or someone else.

• You feel like you may hurt yourself or others.

• You have thoughts about taking your own life.

• You have other thoughts or feelings that worry you.

These symptoms may be an emergency. Take one of these steps right away:

• Go to your nearest emergency room.

• Call 911.

• Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free and confidential):

  • Call or text 988.

  • Chat online at chat.988lifeline.orgopens in new tab/window.

• For Veterans and their loved ones:

  • Call 988 and press 1.

  • Text the Veterans Crisis Line at 838255.

  • Chat online at veteranscrisisline.netopens in new tab/window.

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.

Document Revised: 03/24/2026 Document Reviewed: 03/24/2026

Elsevier Patient Education © 2026 Elsevier Inc.