GAD is characterized by excessive, hard-to-control worry about multiple topics — work, health, finances, relationships — lasting at least six months. People often notice worry "migrates": solving one concern immediately opens another. It disrupts sleep, concentration, and daily energy.
Concept origin
Formalized in DSM-III (1980) and refined in subsequent editions. Borkovec and colleagues developed from the 1990s onward the functional model of worry as cognitive avoidance, explaining why GAD doesn't resolve with simple relaxation.
How it manifests
- ▸ Excessive worry across multiple life domains lasting months
- ▸ Fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating
- ▸ Muscle tension and sleep problems
- ▸ Persistent sense that something bad is about to happen
Therapeutic approach
CBT for GAD includes training in uncertainty tolerance, worry-time scheduling, and mindfulness techniques that interrupt the rumination cycle without reinforcing experiential avoidance.
Related concepts
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