Everyone experiences anxiety. But we with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are frequently distracted by our apprehensions, avoidant activities that might stir up the anxiety, and “on edge” without explanation. In most circumstances of GAD, anxiety negatively impacts the individual’s relationships or performance at school or work.
Treatment for GAD aims to help us feel better mentally and physically and to enhance our engagement with the people, places, and situations that previously evoked distress.
PHSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychotherapy is a popularized form of treatment for GAD. “Talk therapy” can be accomplished by a variety of mental health professionals, and though the methods explained here can overlap, they are guided by differing theories and emphases.
COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard of psychotherapy and one of the common widespread approaches for GAD. Certified to serve adults just as efficiently as it does for younger sufferers, CBT focuses on immediate challenges and contemporary situations. CBT is typically a short-term, structured approach that concentrates on the interplay between the conscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that immortalize anxiety.
ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another present- and problem-focused talk therapy used to treat GAD. Although alike to CBT, ACT aims to conquer the conflict to control anxious thoughts or distressing emotions and increase engagement in meaningful activities that join with preferred life values. ACT can produce symptom progression in us with GAD and maybe an expressly good fit for older adults.
OTHER TALK THERAPIES
Two other types of “talk therapy”—psychodynamic treatment and interpersonal psychotherapy—can also be used in the treatment of GAD.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, also known as an insight-oriented treatment, is based on the idea that feelings and sensations that are outside of our cognizance can guide bodily battle and manifest as anxiety.
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited, present-focused approach based on the postulate that traits may be bred or sustained by problems in relationships and that solving these problems can help lessen manifestations.
While the manifestations linked with GAD are undeniably uncomfortable, the good part is that they are treatable. The medications mentioned above will take work, but the work will pay off in the form of relaxation and reprieve from anxiety and worry.