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It’s normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially when life is stressful.
And let’s be real, life’s stressful a lot of the time (sigh).
However, excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that interfere with day-to-day activities may be a sign of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
The engine of anxiety is avoidance and the antidote to anxiety is exposure.
In therapy, we help you face the underlying fears that are causing your anxiety so you can find freedom and peace.
If you’re wondering whether or not you may be living with GAD, here are some telltale symptoms to look out for.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder can surface from stressful events in your life, including trauma from early childhood.
Changes in brain functioning also may play a role in developing this disorder in the way your brain regulates the chemicals and hormones your body releases in response to stress.
GAD has been associated with abnormal functioning of certain nerve cell pathways that connect particular brain regions involved in thinking and emotion.
These nerve cell connections depend on chemicals called neurotransmitters that transmit information from one nerve cell to the next.
If the pathways that connect particular brain regions do not run efficiently, problems related to mood or anxiety may result.
Gad tends to run in families, which means your diagnosis may be more likely if one of your immediate family members suffers with the disorder.
The usage and withdrawal from addictive substances—including alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine—can also trigger tons of anxiety, making your GAD even worse.
We’re so confident in our extraordinary therapists that we guarantee you’ll love your match – or your money back.
At My LA Therapy, our highly-vetted Anxiety experts are selected not only for their clinical acumen but for who they are.
Living with a Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be a long-term challenge.
It most often begins in childhood or adolescence, but can surface during adulthood as well.
Treatment often includes a combination of the following options.
If anxiety symptoms are present, your doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical exam.
Although there aren’t any lab tests to specifically diagnose GAD, your doctor may use various tests to rule out physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, your physician may refer you to a mental health professional who is specially trained in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders.
Therapists usually start out by asking specially designed interview and assessment questions to evaluate a person for GAD.
Psychotherapy can be super effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, as well as a more specific therapeutic technique, called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
CBT essentially helps you challenge negative thought patterns with rational evidence to come up with more balanced and realistic ways of seeing the world.
Once you change the belief systems that are contributing to your anxiety, you can start to live your life with more confidence and peace.
Check out our dedicated CBT page for more information on this technique.
Experiential and somatic techniques are also powerful ways to help you release your anxiety on a physical level.
Anxiety is often the result of trauma, large or small, and we use a wide range of research proven interventions to help you find peace.
Consistency is key.
Stick to your treatment plan. Take medications as directed and keep therapy appointments.
Don’t give up if treatment doesn’t work right away—remember, like any skill worth building, the the process takes time!
Facing your fears can be difficult, but treatment can help you feel like you’re not a hostage to your anxiety.
Remember to take care of yourself, get enough sleep, eat healthy, and try to be physically active every day.
Avoid substances—even coffee—gasp!—as it can make anxiety worse.
Mindfulness and meditation strategies have been empirically validated to help people reduce anxiety and avoidant behaviors.
Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga can be helpful coping tools as well.
You may also want to consider joining a support group to connect with others facing the same challenges.
Make an effort to participate in activities by staying involved in work, social, and family activities.
Change what you can and let the rest take its course.
And don’t forget to celebrate success, even the small victories!
Our evidence-based, scientifically proven interventions are demonstrated to be effective for overcoming mental health issues such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Learn more about our empirically based therapy modalities by visiting our Methods page.
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I am blown away! I don’t write testimonials, unless I have been extremely moved by something. I was blessed to work with Brooke on a single session, and before this I was in therapy on and off with multiple therapists for the last 20 years of my life. Brooke was able to do more in one session than many years of work with my previous therapist. She has the true gift of great insight and compassion while also getting straight to the heart of your blind spots and unconscious issues in a way that has truly changed my life.
Skyler J.
There are people who are good at their work there are people like Brooke: who are born to do it. I cannot recommend Brooke more highly. I can only imagine where I would be today if I had started working with her years ago. From the beginning of our session, she knew exactly what tools and questions that would work for my particular psychology and my personal experience. No other therapist has been able to do that or anything close.
What I also really appreciate from our session is Brooke's ability to go directly to the source of the issue while also keeping a very gentle and kind energy with me. I felt very seen, understood, and supported. Everything and more that I could have ever asked for from a therapist. I have a severe trauma history and complex issues she was able to immediately identify and help. If she could help me, I know she can help you too.
Taylor E.
You did more in 45 minutes than my last therapist did in a year.
Jamie
With your help, I've finally started to understand that while my vivid imagination often wants to create terrifying monsters under the bed, in a lot of cases those monsters are nothing more than a heap of decidedly less-terrifying laundry I've avoided for too long that just needs to be aired out and put away. Which is definitely a lot easier than monster slaying. Thank you for shedding light in the dark places I was too afraid to face alone.
Morgan B.
I am extremely fortunate to work with Sydney, who is helping me create real internal change. The talent to listen well is Hall of Fame stuff, and she has that. She then follows with questions, strategies that are organic to the moment. I have come to believe that deep, radical, if occasionally deeply painful change ... and, then, healing can happen. I'm just at the lip of that last part - but would not have gotten there, AT ALL, without Sydney
Ric K.
The best therapist ever! Life-changing 🙂
Catherine H.
Right now, the work is changing my life, sometimes in inches, sometimes in miles.
Ric K.
