What is GAD?

Anxiety disorders are defined by the 5th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Diagnostic And Statistical Manual (DSM-5) as a group of disorders "that share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related emotional disturbances".^[1] Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, frequent, hard-to-control anxiety and worries about everyday activities and events over a period of at least six months. The anxiety and worries cause distress or difficulty functioning and are accompanied by several additional symptoms, including restlessness, fatigue, concentration difficulties, irritability, muscle tension, and/or sleep disturbances.^[1]