Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Therapy for Anxiety

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

It’s common for people to ask me “Why do I get anxious?” or “Why do I have anxiety?”  While there is no blood test to tell where anxiety comes from, researchers have identified some common causes.  Anxiety may be caused from one or more of the following: genetics, stress, trauma, brain chemistry, a major life event, a side effect from medication, a result from a serious medical condition, alcohol use, and/or substance use.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is also known as GAD.  A person struggling with GAD may experience chronic worrying about several aspects of life and finds it difficult to cope with worry.  It feels as if your brain won’t turn off.  Other symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder include restlessness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and feeling like something bad is about to happen even if you are not sure what that something bad is.  Sometimes anxiety feels so intense that it starts to negatively impact functioning at work, home life, and relationships.

Anxiety Counseling

GAD is quite common.  According to WebMD, approximately 4 million adults in the U.S struggle with anxiety.  Anxiety is more common in women than in men.  Generalized Anxiety Disorder is typically treated with mental health counseling including the modalities of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness.  Some people also find medication management from their primary care physician or psychiatrist helpful.  Treatment is not a one size fits all approach. 

Often the goal in therapy is not to cure anxiety, but to greatly reduce anxiety symptoms and return to an effective level of functioning.  We need some level anxiety to keep us safe and to stay alert for certain tasks.  We don’t need to feel anxiety 24 hours a day though!

Counseling in Colchester, CT

If you are tired of the uncontrollable anxious thoughts and ready to learn and use new coping skills, call me at 860-888-2516 or email me today for a 15-minute phone consultation to see if therapy could be helpful for you.