What Is the Best Way to Treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

We all feel anxious now and then - that is all a part of life. However, if you have persistent anxiety about everyday tasks and struggle to feel better, then you might have Generalised Anxiety Disorder. This mental health condition may tend to interfere with your day-to-day life and personal relationships. 

What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder? 

GAD is a common anxiety disorder. An estimated 275 million people suffer from anxiety disorders - which is around 4% of the global population. In fact, women are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety than men. Those suffering from this mental health condition often feel overwhelmed by their problems, and find themselves worrying constantly even when they are aware that there isn’t a reason to worry. This excessive worrying can be debilitating and leave you feeling frustrated and burnt out.

Some symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder include:

• perceiving situations as more threatening than they are

• difficulty in letting go of worries

• difficulty concentrating and sleeping

• irritability, nervousness, overthinking, difficulty relaxing

• fatigue and exhaustion

• muscle tension

• twitching or trembling

• Excessive sweating

• repeated stomachaches, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal issues

• rapid heartbeat

• dry mouth

• being easily startled

• neurological symptoms, such as numbness or tingling in different parts of the body

How is Generalised Anxiety Disorder treated? 

If you feel like you have symptoms of GAD, the first step would be to approach a psychiatrist who can lead you to a proper diagnosis. To do so, they may ask you to perform blood tests, urine tests and x-rays to rule out any other physiological conditions which may be causing your anxiety. Try to seek professional help before your anxiety becomes too severe — it may be easier to treat early on.

You should see your doctor if: 

• You feel like you're worrying too much, and it's interfering with your work, relationships and other parts of your life

• You feel depressed or irritable, have trouble with substance abuse, or you have other mental health concerns along with anxiety

• You have suicidal thoughts or behaviours. If you do, please seek emergency treatment immediately

• You feel as though your worries are unlikely to simply go away on their own, and are getting worse over time. 

The two main treatments for GAD are psychotherapy and medications. Your mental health provider will help you determine the best course of treatment based on how severe your anxiety is. If your anxiety is affecting your daily life, you may benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Remember, it may take some trial and error to discover the treatment best suited to you. 

Psychotherapy 

Also known as talk therapy, psychotherapy mainly involves working alongside a therapist to reduce anxiety symptoms. In your therapy sessions, you’ll learn how to recognize and manage your anxious thoughts. Your therapist will also teach you how to calm yourself when upsetting thoughts arise.

Many therapists recommend CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is a form of therapy that can help you change your thought pattern and your behavioural response to these thoughts. CBT can help you put a stop to negative thought cycles breaking down things that are causing you anxiety. By making your problems more manageable, CBT can help you change your negative thought patterns and improve the way you feel. Studies suggest that CBT reduces worry in people with GAD. It is as effective as using medications, and the results last long, even after the therapy has been discontinued. 

 Your therapist may also use other therapies such as mindfulness-based therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) based on your own unique needs. Mindfulness therapy is a type of talk therapy that focuses on learning how to be more aware of thoughts, feelings, emotions, surroundings, and situations, and teaches you how to reduce automatic responses. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that emphasises acceptance as a way to deal with negative thoughts and feelings. It encourages you to have an increased commitment to healthy, constructive activities and to see your thoughts about yourself as separate from your actions.

Medication 

If your psychiatrist recommends best medication for anxiety, they may create a medication management plan alongside ongoing therapy. The most common types of medications prescribed are antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. It is important to remember that medication is not a quick fix - they usually take a few weeks to work, so be patient and keep going for therapy. They may come with some side effects but your psychiatrist will carefully weigh the pros and cons of each medication, and ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks. Make sure that you keep in touch with your doctor while taking medications so that they can ensure that the treatment is going as planned without any severe side effects.

GAD may seem scary, but it is highly treatable. Most people with anxiety can manage GAD with a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. The only way to get better is to take the first step - which can often be the scariest part. Our therapists at Amaha work closely with our psychiatrists when needed, to build an integrated care management plan to deliver the best outcomes for each client. Amaha psychiatrists come with decades of experience and rigorous training in diverse clinical settings for the entire spectrum of mental illnesses. Psychiatry at Amaha goes beyond just medication - we combine the biological, psychological and social aspects of care to create a comprehensive treatment plan for each client. Book a session now.