Generalized Anxiety Disorder Therapist in Boston
ABOUT GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
Generalized anxiety disorder is described as persistent and excessive worry that usually feels outside one’s control. This form of anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders diagnosed in the United States, and it is usually officially diagnosed by healthcare providers when the worrying happens often for about 6 months. As time passes, worrying may seem utterly normal, and it may be accepted because you’ve come to understand that it’s just who you are. These ongoing worries could be about your health, money, family, or work. It’s important to know that everyone worries about these topics once in a while, but constant worrying and expecting the worst can slowly deteriorate your life’s happiness.
What Causes Generalized Anxiety?
Generalized anxiety disorder usually begins slowly during the childhood or teenage years of one’s life and also adulthood. It has proven to run in families and is usually more common in females than males. This disorder develops over time when you are having difficulty coping with internal stress. It is a mystery as to why some people are diagnosed with it, and others are not. It has also been proven that areas of the brain are affected by this disorder. Other causes can be linked to medicine side effects, substance abuse, family stress, environmental stress, or even long-term diseases and illnesses.
Emotional Symptoms May Include:
Constant worrying regarding the impact of events
Overthinking worst-case scenarios
Perceiving situations as threatening when they are not
Difficulty handling uncertainty
Fear of making a wrong decision
Inability to let go of a worry
Inability to relax
Difficulty concentrating
Physical Symptoms May Include:
Fatigue
Trouble sleeping
Muscle tension or aches
Trembling
Sweating
Nausea or diarrhea
Irritability
Generalized Anxiety Disorder TREATMENT
Cognitive Behavior Treatment (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological treatment that has proven to be effective through scientific research on anxiety. Studies have shows that CBT is an effective treatment for disorders besides generalized anxiety disorder, like depression, chronic pain, addiction, anger problems, and more. It focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. For people with GAD, CBT can help by:
Cognitive Restructuring: This involves identifying irrational or distorted thoughts (e.g., overestimating danger or expecting the worst outcomes) and challenging them with more balanced, realistic thinking. For example, instead of assuming that "something terrible will happen," you might learn to evaluate situations more accurately and calmly.
Behavioral Strategies: CBT also includes techniques to reduce avoidance behavior, which is common in anxiety. For example, if someone avoids social situations because they fear they’ll be judged, CBT can involve gradually confronting these situations in a controlled, manageable way.
Relaxation Techniques: Techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness exercises may be taught to help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety, like tension and restlessness.
Problem-Solving Skills: CBT can help individuals with GAD build better coping mechanisms to manage everyday stress and uncertainty, improving their overall ability to deal with anxiety-provoking situations.
The goal of CBT for GAD is to reduce excessive worry, increase emotional resilience, and improve the quality of life by teaching people how to manage and control their anxiety, rather than avoiding or being overwhelmed by it.
It's typically structured, goal-oriented, and may be delivered in individual or group therapy sessions, often with the use of homework assignments to practice the skills learned.
The therapists at Soultality Center for Psychotherapy in Cambridge, MA, are with you every step of the way to help you conquer your generalized anxiety disorder through our CBT treatment.