What Are the Symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

It is normal to feel anxious during everyday life events, such as before an interview or a performance. Indeed, a little bit of anxiety can help to optimise one’s performance. However, excessive amounts of anxiety would conversely affect performance, sometimes to the extent of impacting daily life, especially when the levels of anxiety are excessive, constant and difficult to control. Symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder include:

• Restlessness and constantly feeling ‘on edge’
• Irritability
• Difficulty in maintaining concentration
• Constantly feeling tired
• Sleep disturbances, particularly with problems falling asleep
• Physical symptoms, especially tense muscles, a noticeable strong and fast heartbeat (palpitations), excessive sweating, nausea and diarrhoea, and trembling

Many other conditions are associated with generalised anxiety disorder, such as depression, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse (including alcohol and recreational drugs) and social phobia.