Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been evidenced to effectively treat clients with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (‘GAD’).  The approach teaches clients with GAD new ways of thinking about situations and how to react to them which helps them reduce their anxiety and develop coping strategies which they are able to transfer to other areas of their life thus having both short-term and long-term effectiveness. 

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time and this is considered normal and necessary however some individuals may experience constantly and find it difficult to control their worries which can have a significant impact on their daily lives. 

GAD is a condition that causes individual to feel anxious most days about a wide range of situations and they often struggle to recall a time when they felt relaxed. This can be overwhelming as they are feeling constantly overwhelmed; they can feel as soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another appears about a different issue.

Many clients with GAD will also report difficulties with restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension and/or sleep disturbance.

Who is affected and why?

It is unclear what leads to the development of Generalized Anxiety Disorder however research suggests it can be a combination of genetics and environmental influences. It is estimated that around 5% of the UK population, commonly in individuals over the age of 35, may experience symptoms of GAD. 

Treatment for GAD

Despite Generalised Anxiety Disorder having a significant impact on daily life, it has been medically proven that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is one of the most effective treatments.  CBT can help individuals with GAD reduce their levels of anxiety whilst also alleviating restlessness, sleep difficulties and intolerance to uncertain which are also common symptoms of the disorder.