Do you consider yourself a worrier? Do you find it difficult to relax? If you have spent more than six months excessively worried, expecting the worst to happen and feeling tense, you may suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The National Institute of Mental Health explains that people with GAD are extremely worried about many things, even when concern isn’t warranted. With GAD, this anxiousness about what could go wrong has a crippling effect on your daily life.
Symptoms of General Anxiety Disorder
Even with a realization that circumstances don’t warrant heightened anxiety, a person with GAD still cannot shake their concerns. NIMH identifies a number of additional symptoms, like:
- Difficulty relaxing
- Easily startled
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Physical symptoms, like tension headaches or muscle aches and other physical ailments
Those symptoms may start slowly at any age and build over time. Of the 6.8 million people with GAD, twice as many are women. If you experience GAD, you may find that, at times, your symptoms lessen and at other times, they are much worse. Stress and a number of other factors can impact symptoms. Before waiting for symptoms to worsen over time, talk to a psychologist or counselor at LifeLens Psychological and Counseling Services and get relief from your constant anxiety.
Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Treatment for GAD usually involves psychotherapy and/or medication. We work with each patient to determine the most effective treatment plan. Psychotherapy, for instance, may involve teaching a person different ways to respond to situations that make them feel anxious. Medication would most likely come in the form of either an anti-anxiety drug or an antidepressant. Our counselors also work with patients to explore stress management techniques, develop good exercise habits, and generally find other ways to manage symptoms so they don’t manage you.
Working with you to identify an effective approach to therapy is what we do best at LifeLens