Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment in Massachusetts

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Generalized anxiety disorder is a common mental health condition sometimes known as GAD. It is normal to have occasional anxiety or worry about the stress of everyday life, however this is different. GAD is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, such as work, health, social interactions, or everyday situations. People with GAD find it difficult to control their anxiety, which can interfere with their daily activities. The worry tends to be disproportionate to the actual situation and is often accompanied by physical symptoms.

You don’t have to live with the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. For individuals in Massachusetts, the team of specialists with Colony Care Behavioral Health is here to help. To meet with a specialist, request an appointment through our secure online form today.

How is Generalized Anxiety Disorder Different?

GAD involves chronic anxiety that can interfere with daily activities and overall quality of life. If you or someone you know struggles with constant worry, understanding GAD can be a vital step toward managing the condition effectively.

Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

If you have generalized anxiety disorder you may feel:

• Persistently worried
• Anxiety about everyday situations
• On edge or unable to relax
• Restless
• Tension in your muscles
• Chronically tired
• Difficulty in sleep
• Difficulty concentrating
• Unrealistic worry about outcomes when compared to the actual likelihood of the feared events

When Should I Seek Help?

It is possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or an adult. Generalized anxiety disorder has symptoms that are similar to panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but they’re all different conditions.

If anxiety significantly impacts your daily life, or if you experience severe symptoms such as panic attacks or suicidal thoughts, reach out to Colony Care Behavioral Health. We can help you with the tools you need to get proper treatment and figure out which conditions are needing to be addressed.

Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder

If you suffer from anxiety, we can work to get you an effective treatment plan. Often personality, genetics, lifestyle, environment, and brain chemistry can contribute to general anxiety. There are ways we can can both diagnose and treat this condition and help you life more effectively each day free of worry.

You can expect:

• A thorough medical history
• A clinical assessment
• Discussing the impact on your daily life
• Ruling out other medical conditions or causes
• Evaluating your mental health

Some common treatment options include:

• Prescribing medications like antidepressants or anxiolytics
• Changing negative thought patterns and behaviors with counseling and therapy
• Making healthy lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and sleep to stay active and boost mood
• Mindfulness and meditation or other self-care techniques
• Seek support from friends or family
• Break tasks into manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed