Anxiety Everyone has temporary feelings of anxiety or worry from time to time. However, you may have an anxiety disorder if persistent worry and anxiety interferes with your life. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition where you have excessive anxiety most days. If your anxiety makes you feel ill and tired, and affects your day-to-day life, you probably have GAD. There is a big difference between normal, everyday worrying and the sort of worrying that happens with GAD. GAD is when you worry or feel anxious most of the time and these feelings last for at least six months. It is a real illness and, although there is no cure, it can be successfully treated. It is a long-term illness that can last for many years before it is diagnosed. GAD is quite a common condition. About 1 in 50 people are affected by it at some time in their life. GAD often first develops in your 20s and is more common in women than men. It is often present with another mental illness such as depression or panic disorder.