GAD often appears quietly but persistently. You may find yourself anticipating worst-case scenarios, obsessing over issues like health, finances, or relationships, or feeling as if your body is constantly tense. Sleep can be elusive. Your thoughts may race, and your body may respond with symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, stomach upset, muscle pain, or shortness of breath.
Even while continuing through work, school, or social life, the effort it takes can be exhausting. Many people with GAD also experience depression or struggle with substances in an attempt to cope. Yet, because GAD doesn’t always “look” serious on the outside, it can go unnoticed—even by the person living with it.