Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment

We all experience some amount of worry in our daily living. It is also not uncommon for us to worry when facing a negative life event or a stressful situation. Although, day to day worry is a part of life, at other times you may find it difficult to brush off your worry and have trouble coping with associated anxiety. For example, you may be frequently saying to yourself “why do I keep on thinking about this…”, “I just want to be able to stop worrying” or “my worrying keeps me from getting a good night sleep”.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a marked by excessive worry along with feelings of anxiety and nervousness about a number of events and activities. People report feeling worried about areas such as work, school, family, finances, social relationships, their own health, health of family members, minor matters (e.g., being on time, chores, finding directions) and future. They find it difficult to control their worry.

People often describe themselves as “constant worriers” and express feeling “restless” and “on edge”. If you are experiencing excessive worry you may be having thoughts that start with “what if”, for example, “what if I loose my job and I can can’t find a job”? or “what if I am never in a relationship”. You may also find yourself “worrying about your worry”.

People frequently report that they are always expecting for “something to go wrong“. They recognize that their worry is excessive however express that they “can’t stop the worrying”. The worry creates significant distress and interference in their daily activities, work, school, family and social relations.

As a result of excessive worry, people often engage in certain behaviours such as avoidance of situations or places which provoke anxiety. Other people find themselves repeatedly checking and seeking reassurance from family and friends to help feel better or ask the same question again and again to hear from them that all will be okay.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Physical Sensations

The habitual and chronic worry is often associated with

• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Concentration difficulties
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Sleep difficulties

Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Highly effective and brief interventions are available to provide you with the skills and strategies to overcome your worrisome thoughts, mange your physical sensations and get you to start participating in the activities and situations that you may be avoiding.

Research based psychological interventions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) have been found to be an effective form of treatment for worry and GAD. Dr. Ahmed & associates’ approach to psychological interventions is grounded in scientific-based approaches such a CBT, and they often integrates elements from other therapeutic modalities, such as mindfulness, motivational interviewing, schema focused therapy and client focused therapy based on their clients’ needs and preferences. They provide their clients with services that are customized based on the goals they are hoping to achieve.

Taking the first step towards seeking help for your worry can be challenging. In particular, speaking to a psychologist may seem daunting but rest assured Dr. Ahmed & associates provide a supportive, collaborative, and non-judgmental environment so that you can feel comfortable expressing your concerns. Participating in psychological services can help you learn how to overcome your worry and allow you to get back to enjoying your life instead of worrying about it.

Contact Dr. Ahmed & associates for a consultation and inquire further about the process.