Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect almost every aspect of life and, if left untreated, can become a long-term condition. A person can be diagnosed with GAD if they’ve experienced irrational anxiety most days during a period of 6 months. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and can begin to show results in 12 to 16 weeks. Medication may also be used to treat GAD on a short-term or long-term basis.