Stress and anxiety are part of our everyday lives—but if worrying becomes difficult to manage and interferes with the ability to complete daily activities, this could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Millions of people worldwide experience anxiety, making it the most common of all mental disorders. While occasional anxiety about health, money, or family is a normal part of life, for those with GAD, the worry does not go away and can significantly interfere with daily activities.
Though anxiety is extremely prevalent, there are tons of treatment options available to help. With effective and personalized treatment, individuals can directly tackle the root causes of their anxiety, learn coping mechanisms that work for them, and regain control and balance in their lives.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding GAD: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a pervasive form of anxiety that goes beyond typical life stressors, characterized by excessive worry that disrupts daily functioning. Diagnosis involves detailed assessments by mental health professionals to tailor effective treatment strategies.
- Effective Treatment Options: GAD can be managed through a combination of traditional therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, alongside innovative treatments like deep TMS and ketamine-assisted therapy for those with treatment-resistant symptoms.
- Importance of Coping Mechanisms: Implementing coping strategies such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and healthy lifestyle changes is essential. These practices help manage symptoms day-to-day and improve overall well-being.
In this article, we will explore common causes and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults and the different treatment options available to address the condition—from long-utilized treatment methods to innovative new approaches.
Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a persistent state of heightened anxiety that extends well beyond everyday stressors. People impacted by GAD find themselves caught in a loop of uncontrollable worry, influencing their emotional well-being and daily behaviors. The excessive worry caused by GAD can feel almost inescapable; it’s a pervasive and persistent feeling that completely controls someone’s perception of the world.
GAD is just one of several mental health disorders, alongside conditions like panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and clinical depression, that can co-occur or relate, highlighting the complexity of diagnosing and treating anxiety and its related disorders.
Everyday life experiences and events can trigger symptoms of anxiety. Chronic worry can start with thoughts about common life challenges—like work or school performance, financial security, caring for loved ones, social relationships, and more. However, unlike normal feelings of worry that come and go, chronic worry never completely resolves, even during moments meant to be celebratory or relaxing.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety can take a physical toll on the body, manifesting in several symptoms that interrupt daily life and get in the way of feeling relaxed or fulfilled. Experiencing any of these anxiety symptoms can feel frightening and isolating—but because anxiety is so common, there are more people who can understand these feelings than you might expect.
Symptoms of anxiety can include:
- Excessive worry
- Difficulty controlling the worry
- Restlessness or feeling on edge
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating or frequently losing train of thought
- Irritability
- Muscle tension, aches and pains
- Sleep disturbances (like difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or restless sleep)
Recognizing these symptoms is crucial for understanding the complex nature of anxiety and getting connected with the necessary support. Whether you’re ready to consult a medical professional or simply want to start a conversation with loved ones, tracking anxiety symptoms and their patterns will be helpful.
Identifying Generalized Anxiety Disorder
To comprehensively diagnose GAD, mental health professionals such as psychologists and psychiatrists will ask how long an individual has been experiencing symptoms of anxiety. Your mental health provider will also inquire if these symptoms have caused significant distress or interruption in social relationships, work or school, or other important areas of daily functioning.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety, the best way to start tackling them is to talk with a licensed mental health professional. They’ll lead you through certain diagnostic steps in order to understand your experience and identify which specific treatment options, including therapy and support, could help.
A strong support system and the right tools and resources can keep you on track and help you best manage anxiety. That’s why asking for help from mental health professionals is so important.
Licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists and psychiatrists, have the skills and empathy to guide you through this maze of emotions, with specialized support and education.
How to Deal with Anxiety
Millions of people globally have found the tools needed to manage their anxiety and find relief, relying on the help of effective treatment, coping mechanisms, and professional guidance.
Coping Mechanisms for Anxiety
Coping mechanisms can help to reduce anxiety symptoms and build useful skills for addressing anxious thoughts. Research has proven healthy coping mechanisms can reduce anxiety over time. However, they rarely offer a one-size-fits-all solution and work more effectively alongside medical treatment.
A healthy coping mechanism will look different from person to person, that’s why it’s so important to work with a professional to develop the behaviors that will support your long-term anxiety recovery goals.
Relaxation Techniques
Unchecked social anxiety can escalate into what’s known as a panic attack, triggering the body’s fight-or-flight response. During a panic attack, individuals can experience a rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. While it may seem counterintuitive, practicing relaxation skills during these critical moments can help.
Deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and grounding techniques provide a tangible means of calming the nervous system. By redirecting focus to the present moment, these techniques help relieve physical tension and disrupt the cycle of persistent worry. Relaxation techniques can help rapidly decrease anxiety in the short-term, but it’s important to address the root causes of anxiety to prevent future attacks.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are effective tools for cultivating awareness and breaking free from the cycle of negative thinking caused by anxiety. Mindfulness encourages living in the present moment without judgment, creating a sense of acceptance. Regular meditation sessions contribute to a calmer mind and reduced stress. Both practices can lead to new outlooks on life’s challenges, making them easier to navigate.
Mindfulness and meditation can feel uncomfortable or awkward at first. If that’s the case for you, try guided sessions with a professional to stay on track.
Lifestyle Changes for Positive Long-Term Habits
Though positive lifestyle changes can’t cure anxiety alone, they can have a huge impact on feelings of stress or loss of control. Making time for quality sleep, regular physical activity, and a nutritious diet can help improve your overall health and serve as a major stress reliever, providing a solid foundation for anxiety and stress management techniques.
Social Support and Communication
Expressing your thoughts and feelings with a strong support system is essential for managing anxiety. Those with anxiety often feel like a burden to others and may instinctively withdraw from their support system, but anxiety thrives on feelings of isolation. Instead, try to engage with a support group of friends, family, or a mental health professional. Making space for open communication and connections nurtures a sense of belonging and reinforces the idea that you’re never alone.
Seeking Professional Help
While coping strategies can make a difference, anxiety management is most effective with the help of a trained mental health specialist, especially when looking to treat GAD (generalized anxiety disorder).
Therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), provides a structured space to explore and address sources of anxiety, proving to be a pivotal method in the treatment of GAD. A clinician might provide talk therapy and also recommend medication—such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines—to better manage symptoms, aligning with the comprehensive approach needed to treat GAD effectively.
Either way, your treatment experience should feel collaborative; your healthcare provider should work with you to find an effective approach to managing anxiety for the long-term and emphasize the importance of regular medical care and therapy sessions as part of the treatment process.
Treatment Options for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Traditional Treatment Options
Traditional treatment options for anxiety involve medication and therapy, offering individuals comprehensive strategies to manage symptoms and escape the negative thought patterns created by anxiety.
Anti-Anxiety Medications
Mental health professionals often prescribe medications, specifically anti-anxiety medications, to treat depression or manage symptoms. Two classes of medications are most commonly prescribed: benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA, inducing a calming effect. While effective in providing rapid relief, prescribers generally recommend benzodiazepines for short-term use. SSRIs regulate serotonin levels in the brain and are considered safer for long-term use.
Successful medication-based treatment is all about finding the right balance. Clinicians work with their patients to find the right dosage, with the goal of meeting each person’s unique needs and minimizing side effects.
Therapy
Talking with a licensed therapist is a long-standing approach for treating anxiety and mental disorders. Skilled therapists work with their clients to target the negative thought patterns that underline anxiety, equipping individuals with practical tools to identify, challenge, and modify these patterns. Therapy can help foster adaptive thinking and coping mechanisms that lead to sustained relief and reduction in symptoms.
More Options for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety
While therapy and medication are proven anxiety treatments, innovative approaches—like ketamine-assisted therapy, deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), neurofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and stellate ganglion blocks—show promising results and could be effective for those who may not respond to traditional options alone.
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
The latest research on ketamine-assisted therapy offers promising results for addressing treatment-resistant traumatic stress, depression, substance abuse, and other anxiety disorders. During treatment, trained mental health professionals administer individualized low doses of ketamine and lead patients through a guided therapy session. Research suggests ketamine-assisted therapy can increase the brain’s neuroplasticity, or the ability to change thinking patterns and adapt to experiences.
Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS)
Deep TMS is a non-invasive treatment option that uses electromagnetic impulses to stimulate neurotransmitter production in the brain and increase the brain’s neuroplasticity. Deep TMS is FDA-approved to help with depression, OCD, anxious depression and anxiety, and smoking cessation. With little to no side effects, deep TMS is an effective option for those with treatment-resistant anxiety.
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is an FDA-approved treatment and works to retrain the brain by reorganizing and regulating brainwave frequencies with a computerized feedback program. Many patients report improved focus and long-lasting relief from symptoms of anxiety and depression immediately following each hour-long session.
At Plus by APN, we pair neurofeedback with quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) brain mapping. With this tool, you and your treatment team will measure different wavelengths and create a 3D rendering of your brain—allowing us to measure your cognitive function and track progress.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a long-standing treatment for wounds, chronic diseases, and serious infections due to its healing effects. New research has shown HBOT could be an effective non-invasive treatment for anxiety and depression. In a special pressurized room, patients breathe 100% pure oxygen, stimulating the immune system and reducing inflammation.
Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGB)
An SGB is an injection into the stellate ganglion nerve that helps reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. SGBs are designed to complement other treatment modalities, like therapy, allowing your care team to go even further in addressing mental health conditions without the burden of symptoms of severe stress or trauma.
Complementary Therapies
Anxiety is a deeply personal experience, and what might help one manage their anxiety may not work as well for another. Most often, the most effective approach will include a combination of multiple treatment modalities rather than just a single option.
Each care team at Plus by APN creates a comprehensive and individualized approach that’s uniquely tailored to the patient, immediately addressing harmful physical symptoms while also fostering long-term coping strategies and the reduction of symptoms over time.
Personalized Treatment Services at Plus by APN
At Plus by APN, we offer a variety of specialized treatments to help you manage generalized anxiety disorder effectively. If you’re in Denver, CO, our anxiety therapy programs provide personalized strategies to cope with excessive worry and stress. For those near Fort Worth, TX, we offer innovative solutions like ketamine treatments for anxiety to address symptoms that may not respond to traditional therapies. Additionally, our Deep TMS services in Boulder offer a non-invasive approach to stimulate brain regions associated with mood regulation.
Conclusion
Effectively managing generalized anxiety disorder involves a holistic approach that combines professional treatment with personal health strategies. At Plus by APN, we are committed to supporting individuals with GAD through comprehensive and customized care plans that address both the symptoms and the underlying causes of anxiety.
Taking the First Step with Plus by APN
There are so many different approaches to dealing with symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. But no matter the treatment, the journey toward healing starts with taking this important first step: talking with a mental health professional.
At APN, we aim to support you in wellness in mind, body, and soul. We are prepared to meet you exactly where you are to help you recover, grow, and thrive. Call 424.644.6486 or complete our confidential online contact form
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