The symptoms of general anxiety disorder (GAD) often develop slowly. The severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people experience only one, or two symptoms, while others experience many more. Anxiety can affect you both physically and mentally (psychologically).

Psychological symptoms

GAD can cause a change in your behaviour, and the way that you think and feel about things. Psychological symptoms of the condition include:

• restlessness,
• sense of dread,
• feeling 'on edge',
• difficulty concentrating,
• irritability,
• impatience, and
• being easily distracted.

Physical symptoms

As well as affecting you psychologically, anxiety can also affect you physically. The physical symptoms of GAD can include:

• dizziness,
• lethargy,
• pins and needles,
• irregular heart beat (palpitations),
• muscle aches,
• dry mouth,
• excessive sweating,
• shortness of breath,
• stomach ache,
• diarrhoea,
• headache,
• excessive thirst,
• frequent urinating,
• painful or missed periods, and
• difficulty in falling, or staying, asleep.

Most people with mild anxiety feel anxious about a specific event, or situation. For example, you may feel anxious about sitting an examination. Those who are anxious as a result of a phobia, or because of panic disorder, will usually know what the cause of their anxiety is. For example, people with claustrophobia (a fear of enclosed spaces) know that being enclosed will trigger their anxiety.

However, if you have GAD, what you are feeling anxious about may not always be clear. Not knowing what triggers your anxiety can intensify your feelings of anxiousness. If you do not understand the cause of your anxiety, you may start to worry that there will be no solution. Many people with GAD struggle to remember the last time they felt calm and relaxed.