Generalized Anxiety Disorder: How to Overcome GAD

Today’s article is a guest post from Dr. Upasana Gala, who is the founder and CEO of Evolve Brain Training. Evolve Brain Training is an award-winning neurofeedback-centered institute that focuses on using non-invasive brain training techniques to maximize the brain’s true potential. Dr. Gala earned a doctorate in Neuroscience from the revered Baylor College of Medicine. She has spent over a decade studying how neurochemical and neurophysiological changes in the brain affect the way we interact with the world. Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD is one of the most common types of anxiety disorder and is the subject of today’s post.

Dr. Gala hopes to share her knowledge, encourage others to tap into and expand their brain’s capabilities, and dispel any myths surrounding our most complex organ.

All About Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is an anxiety disorder characterized by severe, unwarranted, uncontrollable chronic worry about events and activities.

A person who has GAD feels anxious and worried nearly all of the time. Their worries relate to their health, family and friends, work, and financial status, among other things.

They even worry excessively about small things. For example, getting hurt while doing a household chore or insulting someone accidentally while talking to friends.

Uncontrollable worries and the continuous feeling that something terrible will happen prevent those with GAD from going about their daily activities normally. They will have difficulty doing their work or schoolwork, relaxing, and sleeping.

How GAD Effects Relationships

Most of the time, it is also inevitable for individuals with a generalized anxiety disorder to have difficulties having healthy relationships. They can become so dependent that they may struggle to communicate and interact with others. They are also likely to lash out in ways that can impact their relations with their family and friends.

Some people with GAD, on the other hand, tend to isolate themselves and avoid relationships. By doing this, they aim to lower the risk of disappointment or frustration with loved ones or friends.

All these symptoms and consequences can make living a normal life problematic and arduous for people with severe anxiety.

Helping Out Loved Ones With GAD

Communicating and keeping relationships can be difficult for people with generalized anxiety disorder. If you have loved ones with this condition, helping them can pose a challenge.

But leaving loved ones alone to deal with their disorder is never an option. If you are unsure about how to help a family member with GAD, here are some guidelines and suggestions to keep in mind:

Help loved ones with GAD find treatment.

If loved ones don’t want to acknowledge they have a disability or feel they need professional help, the best thing to do is assist them in getting treatment.

Start by researching the most recommended anxiety treatments in Dubai. Non-medical options include CBT, Neurofeedback, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT – a structured talk therapy that helps the patient concentrate on the interchange of the conscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that aggravate anxiety.
• Neurofeedback – a non-invasive anxiety treatment option. It is a brain training program that helps patients change their behavior through positive reinforcement. At the end of the program, the patient will learn to feel less anxious and calmer in nearly all situations, including before undergoing surgery.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT – is another talk therapy used to treat GAD. Through this treatment, the patient learns to reduce the struggle to control anxious thoughts and become more involved in meaningful activities that align with their life goals and values.

Discuss what you have learned about the treatment options with your loved ones and encourage them to read more about them. (The same can be done for individuals with depression and considering depression therapy.)

Avoid being pushy.

Once your relative has an idea of treatment options, encourage them to choose one they think they can be comfortable with and can complete. When they have decided, help them find a qualified and trustworthy treatment provider.

Ask your loved ones how you can support them as they start treatment. They may need a ride to and from the therapist’s clinic or help looking after their children while they are not home.

Follow Through Is Essential When Supporting Loved Ones with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Also, don’t forget to follow through. Encourage your loved ones to speak with you after each session. Offer to help them with anything they need.

However, avoid becoming so involved in the process that your loved one feels pressured and possibly gets the urge to withdraw from you.

Provide support based on their preference and attachment style.

People with generalized anxiety disorder need a customized treatment program. The therapist must evaluate the patient’s symptoms and consider their requirements and lifestyle thoroughly before they begin therapy.

You will do well to understand your relative’s personality and how they deal with their GAD symptoms before giving them help.

If your relative tends to reject help or relationships, it is best to show tangible practical support. This means teaching them strategies, procedures, and steps to deal with situations that aggravate their anxiety. With this approach, you have to acknowledge their autonomy and independence continuously.

Some individuals with GAD are more likely to respond to emotional support. If your loved ones fall in this category, aim to show your empathy. Both verbal and non-verbal comfort will help them deal with their anxiety.

Learn anxiety-relieving techniques that you can try with loved ones with GAD.

There are other simple, effective ways that you can explore to help your loved one manage their anxiety. Here are some of these techniques:

• Exercising regularly, including taking a walk, hiking, and going for a swim
• Meditating or joining a yoga class
• Practicing deep breathing exercises
• Using aromatherapy

Although anyone can benefit from these techniques and they are easy to do, avoid overselling them to your loved ones. Allow them to choose which activities they want to do and let them create a schedule that will work for both of you.

How to Support Loved Ones with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Listen to your loved ones with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The most important thing you can do for your loved ones is to listen empathically without bias whenever they talk to you.

Encourage them to open up to you regarding their sources of anxiety and their related struggles. Listen to every word they say and learn to read their body language.

Once your loved ones start talking, consider what they say about how they are willing to accept support and assistance.

Do not make assumptions or judgments about their feelings and the causes of their anxiety.

Do not rush or pressure your family member to talk. Stay calm and patient and respect the boundaries they set. Avoid forcing them to accept your help.

Patience, kindness, and understanding can set you on the right track to helping your loved ones manage their anxiety.

Stay positive and share your optimism, and eventually, they can learn how to deal with their condition and go back to their usual way of living.

Thank you as always for reading.

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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years as a consultant. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate coaching and leadership, including mentoring early and mid-career professionals as well as current and future executives and leaders. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from relevant experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.