I offer therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This challenge can be difficult to overcome, but therapy for GAD can effectively manage it. The following describes generalized anxiety disorder treatment, including the approaches I use to treat it and the results you can expect. Of course, you are also welcome to schedule a consultation or contact me to hear more about how therapy for GAD could help you.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition characterized by excessive and persistent worry or anxiety about a variety of everyday situations. People with GAD often find it challenging to control their worry, and it can interfere with their daily life. The anxiety associated with GAD is not necessarily focused on specific events or situations but is more vague but powerful.
Common symptoms of GAD include:
1. Excessive worry: Constant, pervasive worry about various aspects of life, such as work, health, family, or other issues.
2. Restlessness: Feeling on edge, irritable, or easily fatigued.
3. Muscle tension: Physical symptoms like muscle tension or headaches are common as anxiety seeks an outlet.
4. Difficulty concentrating: Finding it hard to focus or experiencing the mind going blank.
5. Sleep disturbances: Problems with falling, staying, or having restless sleep.
The exact cause of GAD is not well understood, but a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors may contribute to its development. Generalized anxiety disorder treatment is often effective, and it is a common referral reason for clients I see in my practice.
Therapy for GAD Therapeutic Approaches
Here are some common therapeutic approaches I use for GAD, often braided together as part of my integrative therapy practice:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for GAD
CBT, as a generalized anxiety disorder treatment, helps identify and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to anxiety. It involves learning coping skills, relaxation techniques, and gradual exposure to worry-provoking situations. This is often my first approach when I am choosing a therapy for GAD that can have relatively fast effects on increasing motivation and excitement about treatment prospects. People with GAD often have many irrational and exaggerated negative thoughts, and a CBT approach is perfect for reducing the intensity and frequency of this thinking.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
This therapy for generalized anxiety disorder involves mindfulness meditation and yoga to help increase awareness of the present moment. It teaches individuals to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment. While this therapy does not do as much to reduce symptoms as CBT – which is why I often weave them together – it does bring a different kind of relief. MBSR provides a toolkit to help people manage stress and anxiety and thus can have lasting results.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
ACT psychotherapy combines mindfulness strategies with the acceptance of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. It helps individuals clarify their values and commit to a meaningful life. It is very similar to MBSR in that it does not reduce the frequency of symptoms as much as it reduces their effect. People with GAD need to accept who they are, and that worry is part of their experience, even as we work to reduce that anxiety. ACT can have fast results that prove to be motivating for continued treatment
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for GAD
Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, Dialectical Behavior Therapy has components useful as a GAD treatment. It focuses on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. I borrow from DBT in my work, but if you feel like this is an approach you would like as a primary treatment, I can refer you.
Exposure Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Exposure therapy for GAD involves gradually exposing oneself to anxiety-provoking situations or objects in a controlled and safe environment. Over time, this helps reduce worry responses. In this case, the treatment involves a lot of homework, where you go at your own pace and try to do more as time progresses. This treatment approach is suited to those with general fears grounded in constant worry about specific situations.
Psychodynamic Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
This form of therapy for generalized anxiety disorder explores how past experiences and unconscious thoughts influence current behavior and feelings. It aims to uncover and address underlying issues contributing to symptoms. I rarely use psychodynamic therapy for GAD as a standalone treatment, but I do commonly mix it in.
Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Results
I have seen therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder yield various positive outcomes for individuals, including:
Symptom Reduction through Therapy for GAD
Effective therapy for generalized anxiety disorder can significantly reduce the intensity and frequency of symptoms. Techniques listed in the prior section, such as cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, and exposure therapy, help manage anxious thoughts and behaviors.
Therapy for GAD equips clients with practical tools and coping mechanisms to deal with triggers. This includes relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, and stress management strategies.
Enhanced Self-Awareness
Through therapy for generalized anxiety disorder, clients gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to anxiety. This self-awareness can empower them to recognize and address triggers more effectively. This awareness can also help people accept some anxiety as normal and learn to recognize and embrace the positives in their lives they may have been overlooking.
Better Quality of Life Through Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Managing GAD through therapy often leads to an overall improvement in quality of life. As symptoms diminish, individuals can engage more fully in work, relationships, and daily activities without being hindered by excessive worry.
Learning and practicing techniques in therapy can provide long-term relief from GAD. While it might not eliminate symptoms entirely, therapy for GAD can offer tools to manage it effectively, reducing its impact on daily life.
Prevention of Escalation
Effective therapy can prevent anxiety from escalating into more severe mental health conditions. Learning to manage GAD early can reduce the risk of other related disorders developing. For example, people with GAD are prone to depression when the symptoms begin to feel unmanageable and hopelessness develops.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment Example
Here is a sample of generalized anxiety disorder treatment I provide; of course, this is a made-up sample, but it follows the typical procedure and course.
Julie is 32 and is looking for generalized anxiety disorder treatment to help her manage her symptoms so she can be more social in general, become less isolated, and feel more comfortable at work, where she likes her colleagues a lot but tends to withdraw from group situations. She will also worry less in general and find new levels of optimism.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment Goals
Together, Julie and I design the following goals for her therapy for GAD:
- Reduce Symptoms: Julie will achieve a significant reduction in the intensity and frequency of anxiety symptoms. She will use self-ratings on a scale of 1-10 to measure her emotional reactions in specific situations.
- Improve Daily Functioning: Julie will be less isolated and more willing to engage with others in daily activities and responsibilities without excessive worry. She will also reduce the amount of negative thinking she does.
- Enhance Coping Strategies: Julie will develop a toolbox to help her develop effective coping mechanisms to manage symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment Components
I will use cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder as a primary approach while also mixing in some mindfulness therapy techniques. We will meet weekly, at least at first, and Julie agrees that she will do homework in between sessions.
Julie’s therapy for GAD will center around three steps:
- Cognitive Restructuring: Julie will learn to Identify and challenge irrational thoughts related to worry and social fears.
- Exposure Therapy: At a pace she is comfortable with, Julie will gradually expose herself to anxiety-provoking situations to reduce avoidance behaviors.
- Mindfulness Training: We incorporate mindfulness and relaxation techniques into Julie’s therapy for generalized anxiety disorder to help her manage physical symptoms.
She will keep a daily journal to record worry levels, triggers, and coping strategies used so I can provide guidance and coaching.
Lifestyle Changes
Julie will also pursue some lifestyle changes, including:
- Exercise: She will engage in physical activity, including aerobic exercise (e.g., brisk walking, jogging), five days per week.
- Diet: She will follow a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins; limit caffeine and sugar intake
- Sleep Hygiene: She will establish a regular sleep schedule and create a restful sleep environment (cool, dark, and quiet).
Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Results
After two months, Julie feels a reduction in the frequency and intensity of anxiety episodes, has improved sleep quality, and has enhanced social functioning at work. She generally feels more hopeful. We move our sessions to twice monthly. After five months, she has sustained a reduction in symptoms, developed effective coping mechanisms, and improved overall quality of life. We move back to once monthly.
Summary and My Work with GAD
Therapy for generalized anxiety outcomes can vary from person to person. Factors such as your commitment to therapy, the severity of the disorder, the therapeutic relationship, and consistency in applying learned techniques can all impact the results. Additionally, combining therapy with other supportive practices, such as healthy lifestyle changes, social support, and, if necessary, medication, can further enhance the outcomes of the generalized anxiety disorder treatment I provide.
Everyone responds differently to treatment, so finding the right approach may take some time. Congratulations on considering therapy for GAD; it’s a positive step toward managing your anxiety. Whether you choose me or someone else, you are on your way to finding relief.
I provide individual therapy for GAD and couples and families with older children. In the latter two cases, it may be that only one member has GAD, and the others want to learn how to support them, including being part of any homework. Therapy for generalized anxiety disorder can be delivered as virtual treatment or in person. Please feel free to contact me or schedule a consultation if you have questions about therapy for GAD or want to know more about how my services might be helpful.
