GAD Overview & Symptoms Generalized anxiety disorder pittsburgh
Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is marked by 6 or more months of consistent, chronic worry and tension. Many people with this worry about disaster and could be extremely concerned about different things like money, family, health , career or other situations. People with GAD struggled to control their worries and may worry much more than what seems appropriate . There are times as well when they worry for no or small reasons. Generalized anxiety disorder pittsburgh
A GAD diagnosis happens when someone has a hard time controlling their worrying for at least 6 months and has 3 or more symptoms. The biggest difference between GAD & worry is that worrying tends to relate to only one specific stressed and lasts a much shorter period of time.
GAD is very common in North America, as it affect approximately 6.8 million adults! This accounts for 3.1% of the US’s entire population. Twice as many females are affected by this than male. GAD can occur to anyone and the highest risk of having it is between childhood and middle age years. No experts know where GAD comes from, but many believe there’s a link to genetics and negative life experiences.
Those who have GAD struggle to end the worry cycle and may believe it is out of their hands. Many times, they understand that they worry more than they should , but cannot stop thinking about whats concerning them. Often times ,they believe that if they worry about a situation, that it could prevent it from happening so stopping the worry could be a risk.
Many people with GAD manifest physical symptoms as well. The most common are gastrointestinal issues, headaches and increased blood pressure. It is possible to have a fulfilling life with GAD, be employed and have a significant other. There can be times when they turn down fantastic opportunities such as traveling and social events due to their disorder. If the person struggles with severe GAD, they could have the most difficult time doing even the simplest daily activities, such as getting to work.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment GAD pittsburgh
There are many different treatment options available for someone who has GAD. At Makin Wellness, we use CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Treatment, as it has been thoroughly researched and targets certain thoughts, symptoms and behaviors in order to make lasting change. CBT is an evidence based practice, which means that it is scientifically proven to be effective. Adults and kids who are treated with CBT show positive outcomes. Mindfulness is also important to implement with any type of anxiety disorder as that helps the client focus on the present , rather than worry about the futures.
Medication can also be an effective tool if the client prefers to go that route. Normally for GAD, an SSRI , or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is prescribed. SSRI’s help to increase serotonin levels in the brain , which helps balance out your mood. These can be very effective for people with GAD , are non-addictive and usually only have minimal side effects. Common SSRIs are Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro and Zoloft.
Deep breathing and relaxation techniques are very important to incorporate into treatment. Guided meditations, yoga, exercise, spending time outside and other enjoyable activities that encourage you to be present in the moment can greatly assist with reducing GAD.
GAD could occur along with another disorder, such as addiction or depression and is very common. Co morbid disorders would also be treated appropriately with the right and effective options.
If you are struggling with GAD, call us today at 412-532-1249 to schedule your free phone consultation.Generalized anxiety disorder pittsburgh
About Makin Wellness
Founded in 2017 , Makin Wellness is Pittsburgh’s premiere therapy and coaching center located in Downtown , Pittsburgh and New Kensington, PA. The company’s mission is to help people heal and become happy again. Makin Wellness specializes in depression, anxiety, addiction and relationship counseling . Generalized anxiety disorder pittsburgh
Diaphragmatic breathing is a great way to reduce your anxiety, stress levels and reduce your blood pressure . It’s interesting to note that this is the way our bodies were designed to breathe and that infants do this naturally! If you happen to see a baby laying on their back, you’ll see that their belly moves up and down.
Here’s a great and short video that clearly demonstrates how to do this ; check it out!
Many people do not realize how powerful our core beliefs are. Our life is molded around our beliefs. Take some time to consider what your beliefs are and if they are working for you. Are your beliefs logical or are they illogical? Positive or negative? Do you believe you are a winner or a failure?
Beliefs can be changed through spaced repeition; now, you may be wondering what the heck that is! Spaced repeition is hearing or thinking a message consistently for a duration of time. If you have a belief that you are stupid because your dad told you that often when you were a child , the way you change that is the same way it occurred ; by thinking and saying ” I am smart”.
The best way to do this is by thinking new , positive messages instead. Your beliefs will change faster when there is strong emotion behind your new belief. Be sure to word your belief in the positive . An example would be by thinking ” I am a winner” rather than “I am not a loser”. Make sure you are replacing your beliefs with messages that you believe. If the jump from “I am stupid” to “I am smart” is too out of reach, tell yourself something that is easier for you to believe such as “I am smarter than I think”.
Writing, hearing, saying and thinking these new powerful thoughts will eventually turn into beliefs. Consider getting a notebook and devote time daily to writing and rewriting what you would like to have as new beliefs… it is only a matter of time before they change!
Photo Cred : Bulletin For The Study Of Religion
Do your child ever have a hard time sleeping? Do your kids ever toss and turn or take a long time to fall asleep?I have an amazing meditation linked below that will help your kid ease their mind. This uses very specific tones that will put their brain in differing states and will calm them down . The “Fabulous Dreams” meditation also contains powerful and positive affirmations that could boost their confidence as well! Share your experience with this below if you tried it out!
Aromatherapy can be very helpful for stress reduction , but there are so many oils and combinations out there that it can be extremely confusing to know what to use! We love using essential oils and encourage our clients to try it out as well.
Below are some of the best essential oils for the reduction of stress:
You can purchase the scents you are most drawn to by clicking here and selecting “retail customer”. We will do a blog post coming soon about different ways you can use essentials oils! Feel free to bring your oils with you to your next counseling session. Comment below about your experience with essential oils .
Do you ever stay awake at night, tossing and turning due to worries and seemingly relentless thoughts? We ALL have been there , when all we want to do is quiet our minds and relax… but this is much easier said than done. Very few of us are able to do it through deep breathing alone ; many others can benefit from using a tool to get to this state. My dear mentor & friend Paul Santisi is the world’s leader in meditations and self development. His meditations are unlike any other I have ever come across, and believe me when I say that I have tried many! My favorite meditation for clearing your mind is called Mind Silence , and you can check it out for free here or download it to your phone here. This is one I recommend to my clients struggling with anxiety and racing thoughts; I have only received positive feedback about this. I recall my one client raving on and on about how relaxed he felt after the first time he tried Paul’s meditation . He later went on to incorporate meditation into his daily routine to help keep him sober. Try it out and leave your experience with how you felt in the comments below!
Can it REALLY be that simple? You mean to tell me that petting my dog or cat can reduce my blood pressure and relax me? Yes it absolutely can ! Pets are great stress reducers! It is absolutely astounding what can happen to someone’s mood just from petting their furry friend. Petting and cuddling with cats and dogs tend to have a substantially stronger relaxing effect compared to smaller pets such as lizards and hamsters; however, smaller pets calm your nerves too! Next time you feel stressed , sit down with your four legged buddy and take 15 mindful minutes of petting him or her. You and “fluffy” will both enjoy it! Notice how you feel afterwards. Try it out next time you catch yourself worrying about your job or missing the Game of Thrones and share your experience below or during your session with your counselor.