In the case of general anxiety, excessive worry that is difficult to control can involve restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, aching muscles and difficulty sleeping. General anxiety can fly under the radar for decades before it is recognised and treatment provided.
In the short-term,worrying can give us the feeling that we are doing something productive about things we care about yet can not totally control. In the longer term, worry itself can become something we try to avoid. This struggle with worry can rob of the energy to engage in the sort of life we would prefer to lead.
