A 29-year-old woman from a small village in Malawi presents to a local health clinic with complaints of constant worry and restlessness for over a year. She describes feeling on edge almost every day, worrying excessively about her family, finances, and health, even when there is no clear reason to be concerned. This persistent worry makes it difficult for her to concentrate on daily tasks, and she often feels fatigued despite not engaging in physically demanding work.

Her sleep is disturbed by frequent nightmares and difficulty falling asleep. She experiences physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, and a racing heart, which makes her fear she may have a serious illness. She has visited several local healers, but after rituals and herbal remedies failed to bring relief, she sought care at the clinic.

During the evaluation, the healthcare provider ruled out any underlying medical conditions and diagnosed her with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The provider explained that her excessive worrying and physical symptoms were part of the disorder and started her on anti-anxiety medication, along with recommending cognitive behavioural therapy to help manage her anxiety.

Her family, initially sceptical, was educated on the nature of anxiety and learned how to support her through her treatment. Over the next several months, with consistent medication and counselling, she began to experience fewer physical symptoms and found ways to manage her worries more effectively. She continued attending follow-up appointments to ensure her symptoms were under control.