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Generalized Anxety Disorder

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about everyday concerns—work, health, finances, relationships—that feels difficult to control. Unlike situational anxiety that eases once a stressor passes, GAD involves chronic worry that’s out of proportion to the actual likelihood or impact of feared outcomes. It affects roughly 3% of adults in the U.S. each year and often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, though it can develop at any stage of life.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

GAD involves more than occasional stress. The worry is frequent, intense, and interferes with daily functioning. People with GAD often describe feeling “on edge” most of the time, anticipating problems that may never materialize. This heightened state of alert takes a toll physically and emotionally, making it harder to concentrate, relax, or feel present in the moment.

Common Areas of Worry in GAD

People with GAD tend to worry across multiple domains, often shifting between concerns. Common themes include:

  • Work performance, deadlines, or job security
  • Health problems (for themselves or loved ones)
  • Financial stability or unexpected expenses
  • Relationship conflicts or others’ perceptions
  • Family responsibilities or children’s wellbeing
  • Minor daily matters (being late, household tasks, routine decisions)

Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most well-established treatment for GAD. It helps you identify patterns of catastrophic thinking, challenge the accuracy of worried thoughts, and develop more adaptive responses to uncertainty. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is also effective, teaching skills to tolerate discomfort without trying to eliminate anxiety entirely. For some people, medication—particularly SSRIs or SNRIs—can help reduce baseline anxiety and make therapy more effective. Treatment usually involves learning to shift your relationship with worry rather than trying to stop worrying completely.

If you’re struggling with constant worry that’s affecting your quality of life, Miami Counseling & Resource Center can help. Contact us to learn more or schedule an appointment.

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