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Learn more about GAD: Generalised anxiety disorder
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition marked by persistent, excessive worry across many areas of life, rather than about one specific thing. It is recognised in the DSM-5 and ICD-11, and is one of the most common anxiety disorders. The worry in GAD is hard to control, continues most days over a long period, and is often accompanied by physical tension, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating. What sets GAD apart from everyday worry is its scale and persistence: the anxiety feels disproportionate to the situation and does not switch off, even when things are going well.
GAD is more than occasional stress. The worry is ongoing, wide-ranging, and difficult to switch off, and it usually shows up in the body as well as the mind. You might notice:
- Persistent worry about many different things, often before there is anything to worry about
- Finding it hard to control the worry, even when you know it may be out of proportion
- Feeling restless, on edge, or unable to relax
- Muscle tension, fatigue, or trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating, or your mind going blank
- Irritability, or a constant sense of dread
- Physical signs such as a racing heart, a churning stomach, or feeling keyed up
Generalised anxiety disorder responds well to therapy, and several approaches have strong evidence. The right fit depends on how your anxiety shows up and what you have tried before.
- CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps you identify and challenge the worry patterns that keep anxiety going, and is the most established treatment for GAD.
- ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy teaches you to relate to anxious thoughts differently rather than fight them, which can ease the struggle that keeps worry alive.
- Mindfulness builds the ability to notice anxious thinking without being swept up in it, and can reduce the physical tension that comes with GAD.
- Schema therapy addresses the deeper beliefs and long-standing patterns that can underlie chronic worry, useful where anxiety has been present for years.
- Psychodynamic therapy explores the emotional roots of anxiety, helpful when worry is bound up with earlier experiences or relationships.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Choosing a therapist can itself feel like one more thing to worry about when you have GAD, and the fear of picking wrong can be enough to put it off. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in generalised anxiety disorder, or browse the directory to choose yourself.
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