The most familiar type of anxiety disorder is generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders describes numerous types of abnormal, cathartic anxiety, dread, phobia and nervous state, which can occur suddenly of gradually, in a period of a number of years and can hinder or restrain the performance of normal everyday routines.

The major characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the excess and uncontrollable concern regarding daily matter. Due to this constant worry, everyday functions can be affected and physical symptoms begin to appear. GAD is usually difficult to determine due to its lack of the dramatic symptoms, namely unprovoked panic attacks, that often appear with other anxiety disorders. To be able to diagnose generalized anxiety disorder, symptoms must be experienced often within a six month period.

Some common generalized anxiety disorder symptoms are:

- Extreme dread and concern that often occur for within a period of six months during several events or activities. Anyone who suffers from GAD can find it difficult to control the feeling of concern.

- Other related symptoms also appear alongside the anxiety and worry, namely restlessness or feeling tense or edgy, exhaustion or fatigued, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritation, muscle tension together with aches, difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness, unsatisfying sleep, difficulty swallowing, trembling, sweating, nausea, light-headedness and shortness of breath.

- Anxiety and worry isn’t limited to and focus on experiencing a panic attack, embarrassment in public, being contaminated, weight gain, suffering from many physical complaints, or having a serious illness. Also, the anxiety and worry does not exclusively occur during post traumatic disorder.

- The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms become the cause for clinically significant discomfort or impairment at social, occupational, or further important areas of everyday life.

- Physiological effects such as alcohol and drug abuse, or other medical condition, are not the direct cause of the disturbance. Additionally, it doesn’t occur exclusively with mood disorder, a psychotic disorder, or a prevalent developmental disorder.

If the anxiety level a person with GAD is mild, they are capable of doing everyday activities and keep a job. For people with severe anxiety levels, even when they don’t avoid particular situations due to their disorder, they may have difficulty doing the simplest daily activities. The disorder begins gradually and can start at any age, but the risk is highest between childhood and middle age.

Common treatments used against generalized anxiety disorder include prescribed medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Among the many prescription drugs used to treat anxiety disorders are benzodiazepines and antidepressants, and Quetiapine.