Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Anxiety or worry that lasts longer than six months may interfere your ability to function and affect your relationships. You can receive treatment for GAD through psychotherapy or medication.
Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, helps you learn healthy coping skills. It can be conducted face-toface or in a group setting.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy, which includes GAD, is among the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders. It helps you overcome the negative thoughts that cause anxiety and gives you strategies to cope and relax. It's a short-term process and can be completed in conjunction with a therapist, or on your own.
Research suggests that CBT helps improve mood and anxiety symptoms, as well as quality of life post-treatment, and these effects last for a long time. However the lack of knowledge about the components of treatment that are crucial to achieving success restricts the future direction of CBT-related research on GAD. Particularly, it is crucial to determine the processes that are specific to the condition, as well as identify which patients are most likely to benefit from the identified processes.
The fundamental idea behind CBT is to teach you to recognize your unreasonable and negative thoughts, and then challenge them in a systematic manner. CBT focuses on identifying abnormal behavior and modifying it. For instance, if your anxiety is related to anticipatory distress, your therapist will teach you to anticipate difficult situations and prepare for them in advance. This will make you feel more at ease and less worried about the events that occur.
Another element of CBT is exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing you to the things that trigger your anxiety. For instance, if your anxiety is triggered by public speaking, you may be urged to speak front of an audience. You will be exposed to your fears in a controlled manner over a number of sessions with your therapist until you can tolerate them without feeling fearful.
Exposure therapy is frequently combined with other forms CBT that include reappraisal techniques and mindfulness techniques. Research has proven that these techniques enhance the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety disorders. Additional studies are needed, however, to determine what CBT components are effective in reducing pathological anxiety.
It is important to keep in mind that, although most anxiety disorders share the same biological weaknesses, they all require a different treatment. In the meantime, there is increasing desire to develop clinical strategies that are targeted to focus on the key mechanisms that cause anxiety in each disorder.
Medication
The first option to treat GAD is SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These antidepressants can also help with anxiety symptoms. They are the most studied and tend to be more effective than other options. You may have to test several different medications before you can find the right one for your needs. The majority of these medications require a month of time to work.
You can find other medication options if you don't respond to the SSRIs, such as SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) or anxiolytics (benzodiazepines). However, benzodiazepines can cause more side effects than other medications and may cause addiction. They are only prescribed for brief periods of time, for instance when you have severe paralyzing anxiety.
If you suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, it's essential to consult an expert in mental health. Early treatment will help you to manage your symptoms. The delay until anxiety symptoms become overwhelming makes it more difficult to overcome.
You can decrease anxiety symptoms by taking medication and participating in psychotherapy. Talk therapy (psychotherapy) can help you manage your anxiety, and also improve your relationships. Medication can help relieve your symptoms quicker than psychotherapy. You can use medications alone or together to get the best outcomes.
It is characterized by persistent, unanswered emotions like worry and dread lasting more than six month. These feelings can impact your work, family, and your personal life. Symptoms include restlessness, difficulty concentration muscles, irritability, muscle tension, fatigue and difficulty sleeping.
You may be anxious about seeking assistance for your symptoms. You might think that your condition isn't serious enough, or that people will consider you weak for asking for help. However, the truth is that a majority of mental illness is treatable and there's nothing wrong with seeking help. It's much easier than you think to get better. Many different treatments are available, and a majority of people recover with proper support from family, friends and medical professionals. You can also try a variety of self-help methods.
Counseling
While everyone feels anxious from time to time and when anxiety becomes a problem in the daily routine of a person and causes them to feel "on edge" for no apparent reason, it may be an indication of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are treated by the use of a combination of medications and psychological treatments.
Getting help as early as possible is essential, since the condition gets worse with time. Many sufferers wait until their anxiety is affecting them with school, work or personal relationships before seeking treatment. Many people attempt to reduce anxiety by through self-help techniques, such as relaxation techniques. However, these strategies have not been well-studied in scientific studies.
Many mental health professionals, like psychologists and psychiatrists are able to treat anxiety disorders. Some of the most common treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressants. Some people are concerned that taking medication can lead to dependence, but this is unlikely if taken according to the instructions and for the duration of the anxiety disorder.
CBT helps people recognize and modify negative behaviors and thoughts that trigger anxiety. It also teaches skills for managing stress and ways to cope with stressful situations. The goal is to teach people that their worries are usually unfounded and unrealistic.
Antidepressants can be beneficial in treating GAD. They decrease serotonin levels which is a chemical found in the brain that can reduce anxiety. However, they take several weeks to work. Many people feel uneasy taking medications, especially if they view it as an indication that they're weak or failing. However, if anxiety is affecting the ability of a person to function and maintain healthy relationships, it's worth trying medicine as a short-term measure.
Exercise, a healthy diet plan, and a good night's sleep can benefit people suffering from GAD. Physical activity relieves tension and boosts feel good chemicals in the brain. Walking, jumping up and down, or dancing or drumming can be particularly effective. A low-fat, high-fiber diet which is rich in vegetables and fruits can help. Relaxation techniques like autogenic muscle relaxation or progressive relaxation can also help ease anxiety symptoms.
Meditation
Everyone feels anxious from time to time, especially when faced with major life events like an interview. If these feelings become overwhelming and take over your daily activities, they can be an indication that you are suffering from an anxiety disorder referred to as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD is different from a phobia or panic attack because it's not a specific thing but rather a feeling of anxiety that affects every aspect of your life. It can be mentally and physically exhausting and cause you to be unable to rest or sleep.
There are a variety of methods to treat it, including medications and psychological treatments. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a great option for people with GAD. They help to teach you healthy coping strategies and how to change negative thoughts and behavior into more beneficial ones. They also teach relaxation and breathing techniques to help you manage anxiety symptoms whenever they arise.
Medicines can be beneficial to those with GAD as well. Certain medications used to treat anxiety disorders are antidepressants, which can lessen or eliminate your symptoms. Certain medications are sedatives and can aid in sleeping better.
Meditation is a practice that dates back to the beginning of time that can aid in managing anxiety. It is typically practiced in a quiet environment and involves focusing your breathing. It can help you concentrate on the present and reduce worry about the future or regrets about the past.
Meditation can take many forms, with some connected to religions. However, there are many secular methods as well. The benefits of meditation are confirmed by research that proves that it changes the structure of your brain and helps reduce anxiety and moods.
You should talk to your physician prior to meditation. You may try a variety of types to determine the one that works best for your needs, or they may recommend a specific kind. Meditation can be a wonderful alternative to other types of treatment, such as CBT or medication, but it is important to discuss your options with your mental health professional prior to beginning a new type of therapy.