It’s possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or as an adult. While generalized anxiety disorder has the similar symptoms of a panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, they’re all different conditions. 

Someone with generalized anxiety disorder can be in for a long-term challenge. Often general anxiety accompanies other anxiety or mood disorders. In most cases, generalized anxiety disorder improves with medications or psychological counseling (psychotherapy). Changing the way one lives, developing coping skills, and learning relaxation techniques also be effective treatment.

The variety of Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include:

  • Perpetual worrying or obsession about tiny or large concerns
  • Feeling on edge
  • Feeling tired
  • Difficulty concentrating or your mind “going blank”
  • Annoyance 
  • Muscle aches or muscle tension
  • Trembling, feeling twitchy or being easily startled
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Profuse perspiration, nausea or diarrhea
  • Fast heart rate feeling out of breath

The feeling of anxiety can exist even when there isn’t anything significant to be concerned about. There may be times when your worries don’t completely consume you, but you still feel anxious anyway. For example, you may feel a sense of dread, even though you and your loved ones seem safe you feel that won’t last, something bad is going to happen.