Do I Have Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Do you experience excessive anxiety and worry during most of your days for at least 6 months, about a number of events (e.g., work or school performance)?

Do you find it difficult to control the worry?

Did you experience restlessness or feeling keyed up for most days for the past 6 months?

Were you easily fatigued for most days for the past 6 months?

Did you have difficulty concentrating or was your mind going blank for most days for the past 6 months?

Did you experience irritability for most days for the past 6 months?

Did you experience muscle tension for most days for the past 6 months?

Did you experience sleep disturbance for most days for the past 6 months?

Do the anxiety, worry or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning (e.g., social, occupational)?

Is the disturbance not attributable to the effects of a substance (e.g., drug abuse, medication) or another medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism)?

Is the disturbance not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., anxiety or worry about having panic attacks in panic disorder, contamination or other obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder or the content of delusional beliefs in schizophrenia or delusional disorder)?

You do not have generalized anxiety disorder.

While it is unlikely that you have generalized anxiety disorder, you are displaying some symptoms that are related to this disorder. Everybody has feelings of anxiety now and then, however, disproportionate and ongoing worry that you can’t control and has a negative impact on your daily life, may be a sign of the disorder. People sometimes struggle with physical symptoms, including headaches and stomachaches because of excessive worrying. If you are in doubt about your symptoms, it may be essential to see your doctor.

You may not have generalized anxiety disorder, but you are showing a few symptoms that are related to the disturbance. If you have the feeling that you are worrying more than normal and it negatively impacts important areas of functioning and if you feel depressed or irritable, a visit to the doctor is necessary. It can be extremely difficult to deal with generalized anxiety disorder. You may not be able to concentrate at work or at school, it saps energy and it can make you feel depressed. In case you have suicidal thoughts, seek urgent treatment as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have generalized anxiety disorder. Seeking professional treatment for more information may be essential. Your worries may get worse over time, that’s why it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. The worries are not likely to simply go away. The disorder can be controlled with psychotherapy and medications. Also, using relaxation techniques and changing your lifestyle can help. Make sure to seek help early and to organize your life in terms of time and energy.