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What Are the Treatments for General Anxiety Disorder?

by K.T. Solis

Overview

General anxiety disorder (GAD) is a psychological disorder characterized by excessive worry. If you suffer from this mentally crippling disorder, you may experience extreme anxiety all day long, constantly worrying about issues and events that may never even occur. For example, if you have general anxiety disorder, you may lay awake at night worrying about dying in a car accident. You may hear about the occurrence of an earthquake in another country and worry that an earthquake will take place in your town as well.
Types of Treatment

Constant worrying takes a toll on your body, making it impossible to relax. The disorder can interfere with your life, causing you to feel unspeakable dread on a daily basis. If GAD causes such difficulties in your life, you can receive treatment in one of several ways. You can try self help, psychotherapy, medication or a combination of the three.

Self Help

Using self-help treatment is one method that can help you deal with excessive worry. For example, learning relaxation techniques can help relieve stress. Meditation and deep breathing often alleviate the anxiety that can overwhelm you if you suffer from general anxiety disorder. Another way to employ self-help treatment is to focus on improving your lifestyle. Embarking on a healthy diet and exercise program can help you deal with stress in a more positive manner. Finding more positive ways to deal with anxiety can also help alleviate the worry some people feel. Listening to peaceful music, taking a walk outside, spending time with a pet or other pleasant pastimes can often help you deal with irrational anxieties before they spiral out of control.
Psychotherapy

If self-help methods prove ineffective, you may find it necessary to seek professional help. Visiting a therapist can help you learn how to deal with irrational anxieties in a productive way. First, make sure that your anxiety is not the result of medication or some other health issue. Certain medicines or medical conditions can make you anxious, mirroring the symptoms of GAD. A licensed therapist can help you determine if you are suffering from GAD and not another issue. If you are diagnosed with GAD, the therapist will work with you, provide you with the tools you need to face your fears, discover methods to help you cope with worry and learn how to determine the facts that trigger your anxiety.
Medication

When self help and psychotherapy do not help, a doctor may choose to prescribe medication. The three major types of medication given to people who suffer from GAD are antidepressants, benzodiazepines and busprione. Antidepressant medicines usually take six weeks in order to begin working, and they often come with unpleasant side effects such as nausea. They often cause sleep problems as well. Benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety medicines that work quickly but can also become addictive in a short period of time. Finally, buspirone is an anti-anxiety medicine that has fewer side effects but doesn't work as effectively as benzodiasepine.
Support from Friends and Family

If you suffer from GAD, it's important to also receive support from family and friends. Talking with loved ones about your health situation can provide you with encouragement you need to combat your fears and anxieties. Spending time with them and participating in pleasant social activities can assist you in your goal of relaxing. In turn, this can help you alleviate some of the stress in your life.