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Receive treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder today! For more information, call us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2501 Walnut St. Suite 204 Boulder, CO 80302.
Anxiety, worry, or nervousness are some common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This condition tends to interfere with daily activities and personal relationships for those with GAD. Anxiety can be a challenging condition to live with. GAD is, however, highly treatable, just like other anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes are some of the most effective treatments.
GAD treatment options depend on a person’s symptoms and any other conditions they may have. Psychotherapy and lifestyle changes are often required in combination for many people. It may also be necessary to take medications for GAD in some cases.
Although there is no surefire cure for GAD treatment can make the condition quite manageable. Anxiety is a normal part of life, but excessive anxiety or worry, especially if it interferes with everyday functioning or relationships with others, indicates anxiety disorder.
GAD is a common condition that is highly treatable. If you have concerns about your mental health, you should see a doctor or a psychotherapist at Delos Psychiatry. A person’s chances of recovering from GAD are better if they seek treatment early.
GAD can be treated effectively with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT may have longer-lasting benefits than medication for GAD, but no single treatment works for everyone. As a result of cognitive behavioral therapy, you are able to question your negative or anxious thoughts and do things you would usually avoid due to anxiety. For three to four months, a specially trained and accredited therapist meets with you for an hour every week.
Medication takes several weeks to kick in for treatment of GAD and how long you will remain on it varies on a case by cases basis. Other treatment options are available; there is a way to help ease the burden of GAD tailored to each individual.
In short, how long it takes to treat GAD depends on the patient and the treatment methods. The staff at Delos Psychiatry works with patients to determine a treatment plan that works best for them.
Prior to the appointment patients should prepare a list of questions, concerns, and goals, to ensure they don’t forget anything at the appointment and to maximize the thoroughness of care. The psychiatrist will make general health inquiries and listen to patients explain their symptoms and concerns.
Background information will be collected through a questionnaire and discussion about family history. Exactly how the appointment will proceed depends on the nature of the condition and the information provided, but a physical check-up may occur, and the psychiatrist may wish to run tests, or get a set of vitals such as heart rate or blood pressure.
Psychiatrists will then work with the patient to devise an ongoing treatment plan that will likely be a combination of medication and continued psychotherapy or group therapy sessions in some cases.
Many mental health conditions, including depression and phobias, are associated with anxiety. There are several ways in which GAD differs from these conditions.
People with depression may occasionally feel anxious, and people with phobias may worry about a particular thing. GAD sufferers worry about a variety of topics over a long period of time (6 months or more), or they may not be able to identify the source of their worries. While everyone experiences some anxiety from time-to-time, sufferers of GAD experience it constantly, and often disproportionately to external stressors, sometimes in the absence of external stressors entirely.
Exactly what triggers GAD is somewhat of an unknown. An individual can experience the onset of GAD due to any number of factors, in some cases its origin is unclear. However, certain risk factors seem to correlate with the likelihood of developing GAD.
Environmental and genetic factors may contribute to GAD causes and risk factors. In addition to recent or prolonged exposure to stressful situations, such as personal or family illnesses, excessive tobacco or caffeine consumption can worsen anxiety. It is believed that a family history of anxiety or childhood abuse or bullying is a risk factor for developing GAD. GAD can be exacerbated by health conditions such as heart arrhythmias and thyroid problems.
When dealing with situations that could cause worry, those with GAD may experience certain activation in areas of the brain associated with mental activity and introspection. Over the course of a lifetime, GAD is likely to affect 7.7 percent of women and 4.6 percent of men.
Patients living with GAD in Boulder, CO, can seek diagnosis and treatment at Delos Psychiatry. For more information, call us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2501 Walnut St. Suite 204 Boulder, CO 80302. We serve patients from Boulder CO, Denver CO, Silverthorne CO, Longmont CO, Superior CO, Lafayette CO, Broomfield CO, Erie CO, and Niwot CO.
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