Which condition is characterized by chronic excessive worrying and includes physical symptoms like tension and irritability?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a variety of topics, including health, finance, relationships, and everyday situations. This chronic worrying often interferes with daily functioning and can result in significant distress. Individuals with GAD typically experience physical symptoms alongside their anxiety, such as muscle tension, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms are not limited to specific triggers, which sets GAD apart from other anxiety disorders.

In contrast, panic disorder is marked by recurrent unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks but does not involve the same breadth of chronic worry about multiple issues. Agoraphobia primarily involves the fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable in case of panic-like symptoms. Social anxiety disorder focuses on anxiety in social situations, primarily due to fear of negative evaluation. Each of these disorders demonstrates different characteristic symptoms and patterns of anxiety, but GAD specifically encapsulates the features of excessive, diffuse worrying and associated physical manifestations.