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Anxiety

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Excessive and difficult to control worrying about many issues (health, work, family, money) for months, with stress, fatigue, irritability and sleep problems.

Common signs

Constant worry about everythingMuscle tension and tirednessDifficulty sleeping and concentrating

Tips

For you

  1. Set aside a daily "worry time" and postpone the rest
  2. Tell solvable problems apart from unsolvable ones
  3. Practise relaxation and mindfulness

For family and friends

  1. Don't keep giving reassurance: help them tolerate doubt
  2. Suggest activities that help them switch off

When to ask for help

  1. If the anxiety lasts months and holds you back
  2. If you sleep very badly or turn to alcohol or medication

Guidance test

Answer thinking about the last few weeks. There are 8 questions and you get your result straight away. Your answers are not saved or sent.

0 of 8
1. I worry about lots of things at once
2. I find it hard to stop worrying
3. I feel restless or tense
4. I tire easily
5. I find it hard to concentrate
6. I'm irritable
7. My muscles are tense
8. Worries make it hard for me to sleep
Also take the full anxiety test →

Free resources

Downloadable PDF sheetSigns, tips and resources to print or saveFull article: Generalised anxietyFree resource from Clínica VivaldiFree guide: AnxietyFree resource from Clínica Vivaldi

Related disorders

Separation anxiety disorderAnxietySelective mutismAnxietySpecific phobiaAnxietySocial anxiety disorder (social phobia)Anxiety

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Reviewed by María Teresa Fernández Vicente, health psychologist and neuropsychologist (registration no. CV17304), in November 2026. Educational information prepared by the Clínica Vivaldi team based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment and cannot be used to diagnose.