Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety disorders are a normal emotional reaction to stress, and often it is a healthy response to specific events. In daily life, anxiety is necessary for survival. When faced with potentially harmful triggers, your body reacts by going into a fight-or-flight response. This is an instinctual biological response. The flight-or-fight response enables us to avoid danger. However, acute anxiety is dangerous when small events become intense triggers. Common triggers include changes to health, money, work, and family life. There are several types of anxiety disorders but the most common one is known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
An anxiety disorder is when the fight-or-flight response is triggered in non-stressful situations. People who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) feel anxiety frequently, even if the reaction is out of proportion. It’s important to identify in your loved one when symptoms are a normal response, and when their anxiety is spiraling out of control. You might decide they need treatment.
Knowing how to differentiate between healthy and harmful anxiety can determine if your loved one needs help.
Anxiety disorders are characterized by:
- Excessive worry
- Feelings of tension
- Physical changes
- Unexpected panic attacks
- Difficulty concentrating
Physical symptoms include:
- Sweating
- Enhanced awareness
- Increased heartbeat
- Nausea and abdominal cramps
If you suspect you or someone you know suffers from an anxiety disorder, seek help from a mental health professional. Treat generalized anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders at our Los Angeles mental health treatment program. We also conveniently offer virtual therapy programs.
How We Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can develop in anyone. The symptoms are similar to other stress-triggered mental disorders. People who are prone to GAD also might suffer from paranoia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. If someone you know presents symptoms of GAD, you’ll want to help them seek professional help. But it can be hard to identify if your loved one has GAD or a different disorder, which is why we schedule clinical assessments in order for a mental health professional to appropriately diagnose generalized anxiety disorder. Treatment for GAD typically includes both medication and therapy. Each approach is based on an individual client’s needs.
At Clear Behavioral Health, we treat anxiety by teaching our patients how to manage stress. We walk each individual through the steps necessary to deal with anxiety. We focus on a combination of therapeutic and relaxation techniques, as well as coping skills for managing stress. Remember that feeling anxious is a natural response.
Experiencing occasional anxiety is not always an indicator of a mental health condition. To reduce anxiety and stress in your life, however, a person can make some simple lifestyle changes. Some common holistic techniques to cope with anxiety include:
- Reducing caffeine intake
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Establishing a regular sleeping pattern
- Avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs
As a center for also know for dual diagnosis treatment, we also have the resources to help patients with anxiety and addiction. If someone you know needs help for these co occurring conditions, contact us today.
Find Help for Anxiety Disorders
We never make assumptions about a person’s life or experiences. We pride ourselves on being providers of outstanding mental health care and anxiety disorder treatment that is both effective and long-lasting.
Signs and Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder vary depending on the individual. The symptoms can make it difficult for a person to deal with social situations.
This difficulty adds to stress and overall anxiety. Several symptoms can constitute GADs. These include:
- Constantly feeling “on-edge”
- Excessive restlessness
- Difficulty paying attention
- Feeling an uncontrollable sense of worry
- Difficulties sleeping, such as issues staying or falling asleep
- Increased sense of irritability.
You’ll experience some of these symptoms in normal life. However, if you have GAD, you’ll experience these symptoms at extreme levels persistently. If you see these traits in your loved one, it’s time to get them help so they can live a happier life. Contact us today to start their treatment journey.
What are the Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders?
In the United States, 40 million people suffer from an anxiety disorder. It’s one of the most common mental illnesses in the country. Unfortunately, less than half of those people seek or receive treatment for their disorder.
The reasons why people suffer from excessive stress can be complex. They may only have one episode of intense anxiety. Others may have other disorders that lead to anxiety symptoms. Even more people may have experienced many factors leading to constant anxiety. Some possible causes that may lead to GAD include:
Environmental Stressors. Experiencing difficulties within one’s family or at work can make you prone to GAD.
Brain Chemistry. GAD sometimes results from a misalignment of electrical signals and hormones.
Medical Factors. The effects of medication can cause a disorder to develop. Other medical factors include the presence of another disease or the stress of prolonged recovery.
Use of Illicit Substances. The abuse of drugs can intensify your chances of developing GAD. Going through withdrawals from addiction contributes to developing anxiety.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
-
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
-
Social Anxiety Disorder
-
Panic Disorder
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
-
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment in Los Angeles
Our Clear Behavioral Health team helps clients connect to others in meaningful ways in our mental health outpatient program. In doing so, we’ve noticed reductions in anxiety symptoms. Constant stress and anxiety can be extremely debilitating. It can significantly impact a person’s daily life. Our programs include therapy and counseling. We aim to help your loved one manage these struggles every step of the way until they’re ready to.
Our anxiety treatment program is in-network with most major commercial insurers. Call us today to find out how we can help you or a loved one live an anxiety-free life.
Clear Behavioral Health Contact Form
"*" indicates required fields