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What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

1/22/2019

7 Comments

 
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Anxiety disorders are very common in our culture. The fast pace of life, multiple roles that we play, and pressure to keep up with multiple demands at the same time can easily result in a diagnosable anxiety disorder.  The most common anxiety diagnosis is called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which includes chronic worry about a variety of different topics, feeling on-edge and restless, feeling tense and having trouble relaxing. You also might notice sleep and appetite disturbances, and that your thoughts are sped up with GAD. 

Treatment for anxiety disorders can include either medication or talk therapy, or a combination of both. Many people like to try talk therapy first, to assess whether medication is necessary. Counseling sessions for anxiety are usually focused on identifying the source(s) of your worry, identifying thoughts and beliefs that aren't helpful, and learning mindfulness techniques to notice and redirect your unhelpful thoughts as you go about your daily life.

Counseling sessions can also help you better define your personal goals, and provide a sense of direction. Regular sessions provide accountability for following through with the goals that you've set for yourself. Personal goals can be related to work, intimate relationships, family dynamics, physical health, self-care, friendships, leisure time, or any other aspect of life that is causing worry. By identifying concrete steps that you can take toward your goals and having someone holding you accountable to take those steps, you are more likely to succeed. 

Assessing GAD in our office is quick and easy by answering a few questions in your first session. You may find insight into your thought patterns and daily habits that can turn down the volume on the worried thoughts and turn up the peace and calm. 
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7 Comments
Kate Welling link
5/30/2019 12:30:19 pm

It's nice to know that anxiety is common. I have anxiety but I was afraid to tell anyone. It would be nice to get counseling for this.

Reply
Kambria
5/30/2019 02:39:08 pm

Hi Kate, yes, counseling can be so helpful for anxiety, and I hope you are able to pursue that. Anxiety is very common and you may find many people will relate to your experience when you're read to talk about it. It's a hard thing to talk about at first but will become easier with time. Thanks for your comment!

Reply
Eileen Benson link
1/23/2020 11:48:00 am

I'm glad you mentioned that counseling can help those with anxiety identify the sources of their issue and learn ways to redirect negativity. For the last two months or so, I've been getting frequent panic attacks whenever I think about my job. Thanks for helping me understand why using an anxiety counseling service would be beneficial for me!

Reply
Franklin White link
7/28/2020 10:27:20 am

It's good to know that an anxiety counseling session is mainly used to identify the source of the worry and what thoughts cause problems. If someone says they truly have anxiety then I think they should get professional help. There is no need to go through life with that stress and pain if someone can help you identify and avoid it.

Reply
megan alder link
8/12/2020 01:57:27 pm

I found it very interesting to know that there are different anxiety disorders, and that the most common is a generalized anxiety disorder. My daughter has been acting very different in the last couple of months, I notice she is always worried about everything, and just looks different. I will start looking for help so that an expert can talk to her and determine if she has anxiety, and walks us through how to handle it.

Reply
Rebecca Gardner link
11/6/2020 09:34:12 am

It's good to know that treatment for anxiety usually includes a combination of medication and therapy. I think my anxiety has been getting worse over the last few months so I'm now having multiple panic attacks a week. Thanks for teaching me what counseling might be like and helping me feel more comfortable with the idea of treatment soon.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
12/10/2020 10:25:52 pm

I find it very interesting how this post pointed out that regular mental health checks can help treat anxiety. My daughter suffers from social anxiety and we have been thinking of finding her a therapist to help her cope with it. I will discuss it with my daughter before making any inquiries.

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    Kambria Kennedy-Dominguez, Counselor and yoga teacher specializing in mental health, substance abuse and wellness.

    Megan Kennedy, Counselor specializing in adolescents and families.

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