Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is indeed characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry about a variety of everyday concerns, which may include issues related to health, finances, work, or social interactions. Individuals with GAD often find it difficult to manage this anxiety, which can severely impact their daily functioning and quality of life.

Those affected may experience persistent worrying that is disproportionate to the actual circumstances, leading to physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. This chronic aspect of worry sets GAD apart from other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, which focuses more on acute episodes of panic.

The other options depict different aspects of anxiety or stress that do not match the full profile of GAD. For instance, temporary stress related to school assignments is often situational and does not reflect the pervasive, long-term nature of GAD. An irrational fear of social interactions aligns more closely with social anxiety disorder, while episodes of severe panic attacks characterize panic disorder rather than GAD. Thus, option B accurately encapsulates the nature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.