Generalised Anxiety Disorder Treatment

About This Page

Generalised anxiety can be a very debilitating disorder to deal with, and can commonly result in substance abuse problems alongside it.

For those who struggle with a drug or alcohol addiction as well as anxiety, we can offer dual diagnosis treatment as part of our rehab programmes. This aims to treat both the mental health disorder as well as the addiction issue to give you the best chance at recovery.

Learn more about generalised anxiety disorder treatment.

Feeling anxious is part and parcel of life. No matter how much control or confidence one may have, nerves, feelings of unease and worry are all common responses to events or influential stimuli.

However, once such feelings become the norm, where symptoms of anxiety begin to engulf life, a different type of response will be occurring. Known as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), here’s where feelings of anxiety maintain and continue to fill everyday life for many. Generalised anxiety disorder is a long-term condition, which results in heightened stress and pressure on the mind, which influences an unswerving state of alertness.

Yet while alertness, in an unpredictable event, is a handy trait to have, for those with GAD, such alertness can be draining, such worry can be exhausting and such scrutiny of average events, situations or stimuli can be overcoming.

While anxiety as a diagnosis is a wide-spanning condition, generalised anxiety disorder causes distinct symptoms and consequences, known to impact 5% of the UK population. Down to the long-term impacts of GAD, here’s some insight into generalised anxiety disorder treatment along with the necessity of considering such treatments if you’re personally struggling.

 

What is generalised anxiety disorder?

Anxiety as a whole is defined as feelings of irritability, worry, agitation and of fear. Now imagine experiencing those feelings on a consistent basis, where relaxing or diverting attention will not stand as a distraction or suppressant. Such reactions are in fact the symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder.

Generalised anxiety disorder is a mental health condition which unfortunately displays itself throughout everyday life for most sufferers.

Symptoms of GAD do reflect a generic form of anxiety, including feelings of restlessness, dizziness, insomnia and heart palpitations. However, for someone with moderate anxiety, those symptoms can be brought under control once such fear-driven events have passed. Yet for someone with generalised anxiety disorder, those feelings are known to remain, even if such events have occurred.

The causation of GAB is yet to be secured in medical forecasts. However, again differing from generic anxiety, a single trigger can have a domino effect, influencing secondary concerns. Here’s where generalised anxiety disorder can become draining, as switching off, as relaxing and as restoring the mind are very challenging steps to take.

 

Causes and risks of generalised anxiety disorder

As we’ve shared above, the exact cause of GAB is unknown. However, there are some common influential factors that research suggests can combine to influence the development of generalised anxiety disorder.

A chemical imbalance in the brain of serotonin and noradrenaline, overactive cognitive responses, genetic weaknesses, long-term health conditions, substance abuse and a history of trauma can all amount to generalised anxiety disorder.

The risk of developing such symptoms is concerning, as infrequent anxiety can place the mind and body under pressure, never mind the results of consistent anxiety. It’s also important to consider the quality of life that those with GAB will experience, where substance abuse is a familiar coping strategy, where the development of a dual diagnosis is common, and where the ability to lead an average day is limited.

While the development of GAB cannot be stopped, especially when focusing on biological and uncontrollable variables, the extent of such symptoms can be managed through generalised anxiety disorder treatment.

 

The recommendation of anxiety treatments and therapies

If you’re worried about your symptoms of anxiety, sourcing professional support is encouraged, down to the complexity of GAB. Ignoring generalised anxiety disorder, while in the moment may feel like the easiest option, can in fact amount to a severe, life-limiting case of GAB. Down to this, the recommendation of anxiety treatments and therapies is promoted, to help you receive the care you require before greater symptoms unravel.

Down to the complexity of GAB, and down to the impacts that a diagnosis can have on secondary concerns, sourcing support as soon as possible will be wise. To boost your awareness and acceptance of such support, here’s some insight into generalised anxiety disorder treatment.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Finding treatment here at Rehab Clinics Group

As most people categorise any degree of anxiety under the same diagnosis, we hope that clearer insight into generalised anxiety disorder treatment has provided some hope and reassurance for you, that help is available.

Through our services at Rehab Clinics Group, we can help you find such treatment via our network of rehab centres, to learn, suppress and manage your symptoms of GAB. Reach out for more information surrounding your anxiety, your GAB diagnosis and your next steps of treatment.

 

Sources 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/overview/

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/treatment/

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder?

    Symptoms of GAB do reflect generic feelings of anxiety. However, those feelings are wide-spanning and can be very difficult to control, down to the engulfing effects that generalised anxiety disorder have on the brain. Any degree of anxiety can be difficult to digest and manoeuvre around. Yet GAB is recognised to impose such pressures where relaxing and managing such symptoms can be impossible.
  • What causes GAB?

    Exact causations of generalised anxiety disorder are unknown. Yet down to the severe psychological impacts that it carries, suggestions of chemical imbalances, genes, and severe trauma and pressure are leading influences of heightened anxiety, mimicking GAB. As causations can fluctuate and can amount to severe warning signs of cognitive disproportions, sourcing credible generalised anxiety disorder treatment is encouraged.
  • What type of generalised anxiety disorder treatment is available?

    There are different types of GAB treatment available, which we advocate here at Rehab Clinics Group. Yet depending on personal symptoms, a tailored mix will be recommended. Psychological therapies will always be advised on an initial basis. Cognitive behavioural therapy, applied relaxation, dialectical behavioural therapy and stress management are all utilised to revert the strength of anxious feelings and associations. Learning to relax, to let go and to cope through such feelings is also important, highlighted through such treatments. Prescribed medications are also used, commonly in conjunction with psychological therapies, to restore balance in the brain. Antidepressants such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI) are commonly used to stabilise chemical production and circulation. Such antidepressants can be used for the long-term to help the ongoing management of GAB symptoms. In the event of manic crises, benzodiazepine can also be prescribed to motivate sedative effects, to reduce the impact of such mania. However, short-term use will be secured.
  • Are there any self-help treatment tips?

    Certified generalised anxiety disorder treatment will be the most effective step. However, there are some self-help tips you can follow which focus on activating CBT processes from home, on both independent and support group formats. Understanding your potential triggers will also be advantageous, to recognise clear signs of symptoms, which you’ll soon be ready to suppress with psychological tools, offered through rehabilitation.