GAD is diagnosed with a mental health screening that your primary care provider can perform. They will ask you questions about your symptoms and how long you’ve had them. They can refer you to a mental health specialist, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Your doctor may also do medical tests to determine whether there is an underlying illness or substance abuse problem causing your symptoms. Anxiety has been linked to:
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
thyroid disorders
heart disease
menopause
If your primary care provider suspects that a medical condition or substance abuse problem is causing anxiety, they may perform more tests. These may include:
blood tests, to check hormone levels that may indicate a thyroid disorder
urine tests, to check for substance abuse
gastric reflux tests, such as an X-ray of your digestive system or an endoscopy procedure to look at your esophagus, to check for GERD
X-rays and stress tests, to check for heart conditions