Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Takes Over
Effective treatments combine therapy and, if needed, medication.
Dr. Élise Rambert
Psychiatrist
In simple terms
Generalized anxiety affects 4-6% of adults. It is chronic, often co-occurs with depression, and responds well to evidence-based care.
What you need to remember
- First-line treatment — Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Lifestyle — Regular aerobic exercise reduces anxiety symptoms.
- When to escalate — Suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, or functional impairment require prompt specialist input.
Excessive worry on most days for at least 6 months, with restlessness, fatigue, concentration difficulty, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep disturbance.
First-line treatment
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- SSRIs (sertraline, escitalopram) or SNRIs (venlafaxine, duloxetine)
- Benzodiazepines only short-term
Lifestyle
Regular aerobic exercise reduces anxiety symptoms. Limit caffeine and alcohol. Mindfulness-based stress reduction has good evidence.
When to escalate
Suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, or functional impairment require prompt specialist input.
Untreated anxiety doubles cardiovascular and metabolic risk over time.
The words explained
Medical terms used above, in everyday language.
- Symptom
- A sign you can feel or see that something is wrong, like pain, tiredness or a rash.
- Cardiovascular
- Related to the heart and blood vessels.
- Cognitive
- Related to thinking: memory, attention, learning and decision-making.
- Anxiety
- Ongoing worry or fear that is strong enough to affect daily life.
When should you see a doctor?
- Your symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back.
- They get worse quickly, or stop you doing everyday things.
- You notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding — seek urgent care.
- You already take medication and want to change anything about it.
This article explains general health information. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Takes Over?
- Generalized anxiety affects 4-6% of adults. It is chronic, often co-occurs with depression, and responds well to evidence-based care.
- What are the main symptoms or signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Takes Over?
- Common signs vary from person to person. The article above lists the symptoms to watch for, how they progress, and when they need medical attention.
- When should you see a doctor for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Takes Over?
- See a doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks, get worse quickly, stop you doing everyday things, or if you notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding.
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