Your mind won’t settle, even when nothing is actually wrong right now. You lie awake running through tomorrow’s problems, then next week’s, then ones that may never happen at all.
If that sounds familiar, you might be dealing with generalised anxiety disorder, a common and treatable mental health condition that affects how your mind and body respond to everyday life.
This article explains what GAD is, how it differs from ordinary stress, what it can look like day to day, and what support is actually available here in Western Australia, including how Medicare rebates work.
What is generalised anxiety disorder?
Most people worry sometimes. A work deadline, a medical test, a big decision. That kind of worry usually passes once the situation resolves.
GAD is different. The worry doesn’t stay tied to one problem. It moves from your finances to your health to your relationships to things that haven’t happened yet and probably won’t. It sticks around most days, often for months at a time.
Around 2.7% of Australians experience GAD in any given year, based on RACGP anxiety management guidance. Anxiety disorders as a group, which include GAD, social anxiety, and panic disorder, affect an estimated 14.4% of the population over a 12-month period, making them the most common mental health concern in the country.
What GAD isn’t
Generalised anxiety disorder isn’t the same as feeling stressed during a hard week or being naturally cautious. It also isn’t a personality flaw or a sign you’re overreacting.
A tough patch at work, a difficult breakup, or nerves before an exam are situational. Once the situation changes, the worry usually eases. With GAD, the worry doesn’t need a trigger. It can turn up on an ordinary Tuesday for no clear reason at all.
How GAD shows up: symptoms and a quick self-check
GAD involves both mental and physical symptoms. You might notice a mind that won’t switch off alongside a body that feels tense or worn out, even when you haven’t done anything strenuous.
Common signs include:
- Worry that feels excessive and difficult to control
- Restlessness or a constant sense of being on edge
- Muscle tension, headaches, or an upset stomach
- Trouble falling or staying asleep because your thoughts keep going
- Feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep
- Difficulty concentrating, or your mind going blank
- Irritability that feels out of proportion to what’s happening
Clinicians sometimes use a short screening questionnaire, known as the GAD-7, to help understand how severe someone’s symptoms are. That kind of assessment should be done with a GP or psychologist, since it forms part of a proper clinical picture rather than a standalone test.
Worry vs GAD: a quick self-check
- My worry has been present most days for six months or more
- I find it hard to control the worry once it starts
- The worry jumps between different topics, rather than staying on one issue
- I notice physical symptoms too, like muscle tension, fatigue, or poor sleep
- The worry is getting in the way of work, study, relationships, or daily tasks
If several of these sound like you, it’s worth raising with your GP. This checklist is a general guide only. It isn’t a diagnosis, and only a registered health practitioner can assess whether what you’re experiencing meets the criteria for GAD.
Why it happens (and why it isn’t a personal failing)
There’s no single cause of generalised anxiety disorder. Most researchers point to a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors working together.
Genetics can play a role, as can temperament. Some people who were more reserved or easily worried as children go on to develop GAD as adults. Ongoing life stress, past difficult experiences, and a tendency to feel uncertain about the future can all contribute as well.
None of this means the worry is your fault, or something you should be able to think your way out of on your own.
How common is GAD in Australia?
GAD is common, and it’s a meaningful part of the country’s overall mental health picture. Mental and substance use disorders together account for around 15% of the total disease burden in Australia, ranking second only to cancer.
Lifetime prevalence of GAD in Australia has been estimated at around 8%, somewhat higher than international estimates of roughly 3.7%. Rates also appear to be rising among younger Australians.
Among 15 to 17 year olds, 19% were estimated to have a diagnosed mental illness in 2021, up from 6% in 2009, with anxiety disorders reported by 25% of female adolescents compared with 9% of male adolescents.
Despite how common it is, treatment-seeking hasn’t kept pace. Between 2006 and 2016, the rate at which Australian GPs managed anxiety in consultations rose only from 2.3% to 3.2%, well below what prevalence figures would suggest. Many people live with GAD for years before getting support.
How GAD is treated
GAD responds well to evidence-based psychological treatment. Most people are supported through a combination of talking therapy and practical strategies, sometimes alongside a conversation with their GP about medication if needed.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is one of the treatment options recommended for GAD in Australia, according to healthdirect’s guide to treating GAD. CBT helps you notice the thought patterns and behaviours that keep worry going, then build practical, workable ways to respond differently.
EMDR and psychodynamic approaches
Where anxiety seems connected to past experiences, some psychologists also draw on Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) or psychodynamic approaches, alongside other methods such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), to look at what may be driving the worry underneath the surface symptoms.
Results vary between individuals, and how someone responds to therapy depends on their own circumstances. A registered psychologist can talk you through which approach is likely to suit your situation, and outcomes aren’t promised in advance for any single method.
If medication is relevant to your situation, that’s a conversation to have with your GP or a psychiatrist, since psychologists in Australia don’t prescribe.
Getting support in Perth and WA: what it actually costs
Cost and access are often the biggest barriers to getting help, so here’s how the main pathways compare.
If you’re going through Medicare, the process usually looks like this:
- Book a longer appointment with your GP and explain what you’ve been experiencing.
- Get your Mental Health Care Plan and referral letter. Your GP will typically issue this for an initial six sessions.
- Attend your sessions with a registered psychologist. After six sessions, you’ll return to your GP for a review before accessing the remaining four.
- Receive your rebate, which is usually processed within a couple of days of each appointment.
When to reach out
You don’t need to wait until things feel unbearable before getting support. If worry has been affecting your sleep, work, or relationships for a while, that’s already a reasonable reason to talk to someone.
If you’re in crisis or need to talk to someone urgently, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours a day.
For non-urgent support, a good starting point is a conversation with your GP about a Mental Health Care Plan, or reaching out directly to a registered psychologist to ask whether therapy is a fit for what you’re going through. You can find more detail on Medicare rebates and fees and what a first session actually feels like before you book.
If you would like to talk through your situation with a registered psychologist in East Fremantle, the team at Sage Psychological Services is happy to help. You can read more about anxiety therapy in Perth, learn about EMDR therapy, check telehealth across WA, or book a session with Jacob when you’re ready.
Frequently asked questions
Normal worry is usually tied to a specific situation and eases once that situation passes. GAD involves persistent, hard-to-control worry across several areas of life, most days, for six months or more, often alongside physical symptoms like muscle tension or poor sleep.
Common symptoms include excessive worry, restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, and sleep difficulties. It’s usually the combination of several symptoms together, along with how long they’ve lasted, that matters most. Symptoms vary from person to person, and a registered health practitioner can help you understand whether what you’re experiencing fits a clinical picture.
GAD responds well to evidence-based psychological treatment, though results vary between individuals and outcomes can’t be promised in advance. Many people find that with the right support, worry becomes far more manageable, though occasional anxiety is a normal part of life for everyone. Speak with a registered practitioner about what to expect in your situation.
You don’t need a referral to see a psychologist privately, but a referral and Mental Health Care Plan from your GP are required to access Medicare rebates. Without a plan, you can still book and pay privately, with an invoice provided after each session.
Standard psychology sessions are often around $180, with a Medicare rebate of $101.55 available under a Mental Health Care Plan. The same rebate applies whether your session is in person or via telehealth. Eligible clients can access up to 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year, with a GP review after the first six. Exact fees vary by practice.
GAD involves ongoing worry across many areas of life, while panic disorder centres on sudden, intense panic attacks, and social anxiety focuses specifically on fear of social or performance situations. These conditions can overlap, and a registered practitioner can help clarify what’s happening for you.
Yes. Telehealth psychology sessions are available across Western Australia for people who can’t attend in person or prefer the comfort of home, using the same evidence-based approaches offered in-clinic. Sessions are usually held by secure video call, and the same Medicare rebate applies as for an in-person appointment if you have a valid Mental Health Care Plan.
