What to expect from a mental health assessment for generalised anxiety disorder

The clinician may ask what you worry about, how controllable the worry feels, how often it occurs, and whether it affects sleep, concentration, work, study, or relationships. They may explore restlessness, muscle tension, tiredness, irritability, stomach symptoms, headaches, and a racing heartbeat.

The discussion can include panic symptoms, low mood, trauma, obsessive thoughts, substance use, medicines, caffeine, and physical health. These questions help identify overlapping problems and possible causes rather than treating every anxious feeling in the same way. You may complete a short questionnaire to describe severity and change over time.

Bring a list of medicines and supplements, and note common triggers, avoidance, sleep, physical sensations, and what calms or worsens the worry. Describe how anxiety changes your choices, such as avoiding travel, appointments, work tasks, or social contact.

Care may include structured talking therapy, medication, breathing or relaxation skills, sleep support, and follow-up. Ask how to practise any exercises safely and how progress will be measured. Tell the clinician if a proposed treatment conflicts with pregnancy, another illness, or your responsibilities.

Seek immediate help if anxiety comes with thoughts of suicide, inability to stay safe, severe confusion, hallucinations, or danger to another person. Chest pain, fainting, severe breathing difficulty, or new neurological symptoms need urgent medical assessment rather than being assumed to be anxiety. Contact emergency services when symptoms are severe or danger is immediate.

Ask: Could a physical problem or medicine be contributing? Which therapy would suit my pattern of worry? What can I do during a severe episode? How soon should we review progress, and what should trigger earlier contact?