How is generalised anxiety disorder treated?

Generalised anxiety disorder involves persistent, hard-to-control worry that can affect sleep, concentration, energy and daily decisions. Cognitive behavioural therapy can help you notice unhelpful worry patterns and practise different responses. A clinician may also discuss an antidepressant medicine used for anxiety; these medicines often need regular use and follow-up, and should not be stopped suddenly. Treatment is collaborative: your physical health, other medicines, alcohol or drug use, and preferences all affect the safest plan.

Book a GP or mental-health assessment if worry is interfering with work, relationships or sleep. Keep a simple record of triggers, physical symptoms and what helps. Regular sleep and meals, movement suited to your health, slower breathing and reducing caffeine can support treatment, but they do not replace professional care when symptoms persist. Follow-up lets the clinician check benefit, side effects and whether another condition could be contributing to dizziness, fatigue or tremor.

Seek immediate help if anxiety comes with thoughts of harming yourself, feeling unable to stay safe, severe confusion, fainting, chest pain or serious breathing difficulty. Contact a clinician promptly if symptoms suddenly change, you cannot sleep for a prolonged period, or medication causes troubling effects. A mental-health crisis deserves urgent support, and you do not need to manage it alone.

Ask which therapy is available, whether medicine fits your symptoms, how long benefits may take, and what side effects require contact. Ask how follow-up will work and what to do if worry, sleep problems or concentration difficulties worsen.