Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by overwhelming anxiety and worry, irritability, trouble relaxing, poor concentration and physical symptoms such as muscle aches, stomachaches, trouble sleeping and fatigue. It's normal to feel anxious or worried when you have to make a presentation in front of your co-workers or when you're about to walk into a job interview. However, it's not normal to feel anxious most of the time which occurs when you have this anxiety disorder.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common type of psychotherapy used to treat this disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy. The counselor helps the client understand how her thoughts affect her emotions and behavior. The therapist will educate the client about cognitive behavioral therapy and generalized anxiety disorder. Then the therapist will teach the client how to monitor her levels of anxiety and will teach the client how to physically control anxiety through deep breathing, visualization and other techniques. The therapist will help the client learn how to alter her thinking and teach the client behavioral strategies for reducing anxiety such as time management techniques.
Medication
Helpguide.org says the three medications used to treat generalized anxiety disorder are buspirone, benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Most doctors will recommend patients try buspirone or antidepressants to combat anxiety before tying benzodiazepines. These two types of medications are less addicting and sedating than benzodiazepines; however, they take much longer to become effective. Some people have to take them for several weeks before noticing positive effects. Benzodiazepines usually only take about 30 minutes before they take effect, so they might be used if someone has severe anxiety until other medications become effective.
Self-Help and Alternative Therapies
People with generalized anxiety disorder can take control of their treatment by learning self-help techniques. Most people with this disorder don't know how to cope with stress, worry and anxiety in healthy ways; therefore, they've developed an anxiety disorder. If they can teach themselves how to cope in healthier ways such as meditating and exercising, they can successfully reduce their symptoms of anxiety.
According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, there are complementary and alternative treatments for generalized anxiety disorder that can be used with conventional medicine. Some of these treatments include kava kava tablets, acupuncture, yoga, art and music therapy, massage therapy and homeopathic medicine.
