Finding Support For Generalized Anxiety Disorder And Symptoms
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition that can interfere with daily activities and cause symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and sleep disorders. Although experiencing an anxiety disorder may feel like an overwhelming challenge, knowing you’re not alone can be reassuring. Millions of people worldwide experience anxiety disorders, and there are some ways you can find support.
For many people, GAD can be treated with medication, lifestyle changes, therapy, or a combination of methods. Finding support for symptoms of GAD from a mental health professional can help manage the condition and improve overall quality of life. Read on to learn more about GAD and how to seek support.
What is generalized anxiety disorder?
GAD is a long-term condition where one experiences worry or anxiety about several issues. This worry can be excessive and constant, even when there seems to be no clear reason for the anxiety. Individuals with GAD may experience challenges performing their daily tasks or maintaining relationships with others.
While GAD can affect anyone, research shows it's more common in women than men. Also, symptoms often appear during adolescence and early adulthood, which may be an important time for young people to be aware of their mental health.
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
To diagnose GAD, a healthcare professional may examine the patient physically and ask questions about their symptoms and medical history. They may also use screening tools such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale to determine the severity of the anxiety symptoms.
Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder
The symptoms of GAD may include both physical and psychological symptoms, such as:
- Muscle tension
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Challenges sleeping
- Excessive worry
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Challenges concentrating
- Feeling on edge
Ways to treat symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder
With the right treatment, people with GAD can learn to manage their anxiety and improve their quality of life. A mental health professional may help you work out the right treatment plan for your needs. Below are some treatment options for the condition.
Medications
Medications can be effective in treating GAD symptoms. A psychiatrist may prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or beta-blockers to help manage GAD symptoms. These medications can help reduce anxiety and improve mood. However, medications may have side effects and can interact with other medications. Consulting a doctor before starting any medications for GAD may be helpful.
Therapy
Therapy is a common treatment for GAD. Mental health professionals may use acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people with GAD manage their anxiety. ACT may help people learn to accept their anxiety and focus on what is important to them despite their anxiety. CBT can help people identify and change negative thought patterns that may be causing anxiety. Therapy can be done individually or in a group setting.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes can also help manage GAD symptoms. Exercising, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep may help reduce anxiety. In addition, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and drugs may help manage anxiety symptoms. Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises are other alternative methods that may help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
Regular aerobic exercise like running or swimming has been found to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, and improve sleep and self-esteem. Aerobic exercise has even been found to work as effectively as medication for some people to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Other types of anxiety disorders
Specific situations or objects may characterize different anxiety disorders. Examples of other anxiety disorders aside from GAD include the following:
Panic disorder
Panic attacks are typically sudden and intense episodes of fear or anxiety. If someone experiences panic attacks, mental health professionals may recommend various treatments, such as exposure therapy or panic-focused psychotherapy.
Social anxiety disorder
Another type of anxiety disorder is social anxiety disorder, which may involve a deep fear or worry about social situations. People with this condition may fear being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social settings. They might dread situations where they have to interact with others or be the center of attention. This differs from GAD in that fear and anxiety are specifically focused on social situations.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that typically involves an intense fear of places or situations that might make a person feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. Individuals with agoraphobia often fear being in crowded areas, being outside of the home alone, or being in enclosed spaces like elevators. They might avoid these situations to prevent feeling panicked or anxious.
Where to find support for generalized anxiety disorder and mental health
GAD can be a challenging condition to manage alone. Individuals with GAD may benefit from joining a support group. Support groups can create a safe and supportive community for individuals to share their experiences with others going through similar experiences. You can find support groups through mental health clinics, community centers, or online. You may want to find a support group that fits your needs and preferences.
There are also various online platforms and helplines, like the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), that can provide resources and support. Schools and colleges often offer counseling services to students, which can be a potential starting point. Remember that reaching out to trusted friends and family can also provide a network of support.
Finding support for generalized anxiety disorder from a mental health professional
Many mental health professionals are trained to help individuals with GAD. These professionals include psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed counselors, among others. Finding the right mental health professional may be a helpful step toward managing GAD symptoms.
Mental health services for generalized anxiety disorder
Mental health professionals can provide a range of services to individuals with GAD. These services may include psychotherapy, medication management, or a combination of the two. As we mentioned earlier, cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy, may be particularly helpful for individuals with GAD. CBT can help individuals identify and change negative thinking patterns and behavior that might be causing anxiety.
Is online therapy effective?
Online therapy may be an ideal option for people experiencing GAD. Due to its convenience and accessibility, online therapy may benefit individuals with busy schedules or who live in remote areas. With this platform, individuals can communicate with their therapist via messaging, phone, or video chat, which may make it convenient to fit therapy sessions into their daily routines. Also, online therapy is typically more affordable than in-person therapy because you may not need to worry about the cost of transportation and other costs associated with in-person therapy.
Support for generalized anxiety disorder: Effective online CBT
A study published in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine found that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was equally effective as in-person treatment for GAD.According to the study, individuals who received online CBT showed significant improvements in anxiety symptoms, with some experiencing complete remission of their symptoms.
Takeaway
If you or someone you know is experiencing GAD, there are several strategies you can use to help manage the symptoms. First, seeking professional help from a mental health provider who can assess your condition and recommend appropriate treatment options may be a helpful place to begin. This may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, which can help you identify and change negative thought patterns contributing to anxiety. Medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may also be prescribed to help manage symptoms.
In addition to therapy and medication, several lifestyle changes may help manage GAD. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can all help reduce anxiety symptoms. Mindfulness meditation and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation can also be helpful.
How do you support someone with generalized anxiety disorder?
If a friend or family member is living with GAD, first learn to recognize the emotional and physical symptoms of excessive anxiety. Next, don’t dismiss their symptoms. Validate their feelings, but don’t enable them to avoid their fears. Neither should you force them to confront things that they are not ready to face. Listen to them, offer concern and support, and if you notice that their anxiety negatively impacts their everyday life, encourage them to seek professional help.
Can people with GAD stop worrying?
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, and different from experiencing GAD or other mental health conditions. Mental disorders affect the brain, and biological processes play into malfunction of the stress response, and so those with GAD feel extremely worried about things that seem unimportant to people without anxiety.
However, it is possible to treat anxiety and even manage severe forms of GAD. GAD is generally treated with a combination of therapy, healthy lifestyle habits, and prescription medication.
Is GAD considered a severe mental illness?
GAD is a common type of anxiety disorder in which an individual experiences significant distress from being in a chronic state of persistent worry and tension, very often with little or no reason. Some cases are more severe than others, however, GAD can be effectively treated with talk therapy, stress management techniques, anti-anxiety sedative medication, and complementary and integrative health practices.
To be diagnosed with GAD, a provider will use the criteria laid out by the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM-5), often alongside a physical exam.
How to comfort someone with GAD?
Often it can be comforting to a person with worsening anxiety to have someone listen and help bring them back into the present moment. You can also learn some simple grounding exercises that can help, and guide your loved one through them.
Is being married to someone with anxiety exhausting?
In many cases, it can be difficult to live with someone who experiences anxiety, but there are actions you can take to help both yourself and your spouse experience a better quality of life. If your spouse lives with anxiety, education can be key to understanding how to act in a way that doesn’t worsen anxiety, and that can help alleviate symptoms. Learn grounding techniques that can be a powerful stress reducer for people who feel anxious, and use them when you notice a flare up of symptoms.
Also, be a partner in your loved one’s treatment journey. Encourage them to get professional help, and offer support in building and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits that can help to manage symptoms. Regular therapy sessions can lead to rapidly decreasing anxiety.
Is anxiety inherited from the mother or father?
According to the American Psychiatric Association and the National Institutes of Mental Health, there is a genetic component to developing anxiety disorders. If you have a parent or other close family member who experiences anxiety, you can be at risk of the same. However, it is not specifically the mother or the father who increases the risk…it could be either depending on the situation.
What is the best medication for generalized anxiety disorder?
When providers diagnose generalized anxiety disorder, they may start by recommending therapy appointments to ease anxiety, but may also prescribe medications like benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. They may also recommend healthy lifestyle habits and encourage the patient to quit smoking, avoid alcohol, and get physically active. Which medication is best will depend on situational factors, including severity, type, and whether it is necessary to treat depression as well. A provider may start with one medication, but then replace treatment recommendations if the patient does not respond, or as an adverse reaction.
Does GAD count as a disability?
Generalized anxiety disorder can be considered a disability under the criteria of the Americans with Disabilities Act depending on certain factors.
What happens if GAD is left untreated?
If a person has untreated GAD, they may have trouble controlling their symptoms and live with severe forms of anxiety that can impact their lives and relationships. Some negative outcomes of untreated GAD include:
- Trouble falling asleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Unexplained pains
- Worry excessively
- Substance abuse as some use recreational drugs to self-medicate when they feel anxious
What is the root cause of anxiety?
Like other mental disorders, anxiety doesn’t have a single root cause. Rather, it may develop from a combination of risk factors like family history, a stressful environment, genetic factors, trauma, or physical illness.
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