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AnxietyHow do I know if I am experiencing Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
While it is very normal and, to a degree healthy, to worry about situations and events, about three to four percent of us worry excessively (that’s roughly 1 in 30 of us), to the point that it interferes greatly with our quality of life. When this happens, a formal diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) may be made. |
For such a diagnosis to be made, the following criteria must be met:
• Excessive anxiety and worry about a variety of events or situations, experienced during more than half the days over a period of six months or more
• The person feels unable to control their worrying
• Symptoms should include three or more of the following,
• Trouble concentrating
• Increased muscle tension
• Trouble sleeping
• Restless and ‘edgy’ feeling
• Irritablity
• Tires easily
The above symptoms must be causing a real impairment in the areas of work, social and personal functioning.
The problem must not be directly related to a general medical condition or by substance use including prescribed and non-prescribed drugs
The problem must not be linked to or better explained by another condition (such as Panic Disorder, OCD,.....)
• Excessive anxiety and worry about a variety of events or situations, experienced during more than half the days over a period of six months or more
• The person feels unable to control their worrying
• Symptoms should include three or more of the following,
• Trouble concentrating
• Increased muscle tension
• Trouble sleeping
• Restless and ‘edgy’ feeling
• Irritablity
• Tires easily
The above symptoms must be causing a real impairment in the areas of work, social and personal functioning.
The problem must not be directly related to a general medical condition or by substance use including prescribed and non-prescribed drugs
The problem must not be linked to or better explained by another condition (such as Panic Disorder, OCD,.....)
What can I do if I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder?If you suspect you may have GAD, you can discuss this with your doctor or with a fully qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. Your GP will be able to rule out any physical or medication-related reasons for your anxiety and will also be able to advise you of differant treatments
which may help. |
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How can CBT help with Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people to understand the connections between their thoughts, their feelings and their actions or behaviours. Worry, as an activity, can be very positive – it can help us prepare for important events, it can help us avoid dangers or problems and it can often encourage us to find solutions.
While everybody worries to some degree, people with GAD tend to believe that they have no control over their worrying (in reality this is never the case) and they often worry about worrying (fearing for their mental health). Another feature of GAD is that people sometimes believe that it is important to worry about everything in order to avoid disaster.
CBT works by helping people to understand the problem of GAD and how they might be maintaining this problem without even realising it. Treatment then focuses on teaching people how to change their thinking and their behaviours to correct and overcome this problem.
While everybody worries to some degree, people with GAD tend to believe that they have no control over their worrying (in reality this is never the case) and they often worry about worrying (fearing for their mental health). Another feature of GAD is that people sometimes believe that it is important to worry about everything in order to avoid disaster.
CBT works by helping people to understand the problem of GAD and how they might be maintaining this problem without even realising it. Treatment then focuses on teaching people how to change their thinking and their behaviours to correct and overcome this problem.