Generalized anxiety disorder can be hard to recognize because you may not think of yourself as worried or anxious. But if you are having physical pain, or waking up in the night, or sensitive to sounds, or overthinking things, you may have GAD. That's what happened to me.
For most of my life I’ve struggled with social anxiety disorder, along with generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and depression. During the worst of it, I was on strong medication and medical disability benefits due to my fear of job interviews. I would feel uncomfortable or awkward in public 90 percent of the time.
My earliest childhood memories are of constant fear. A skinny kid with crooked teeth, somewhat shy and reserved with social anxiety, I was an easy target for bullies, which made my issues even more difficult to handle. I never spoke to anyone about my feelings because I felt they were my fault.Treating Anxiety Disorders, Part 1 (of 6): The Power of Anxiety
Licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, and other therapists can successfully treat disabling anxiety disorders. Video produced by AnxietyTraining.com
Treating Anxiety Disorders, Part 2 (of 6): Treatment and Recovery: One Patient's Story
A young woman with OCD learns how to manage her OCD and finds out it no longer controls her. Video produced by AnxietyTraining.com
Treating Anxiety Disorders, Part 3 (of 6): Medications and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Methods clinicians use to treat anxiety disorders: medications (psychopharmacology), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), complementary treatments. Video produced by AnxietyTraining.com
Treating Anxiety Disorders, Part 4 (of 6): What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?
A licensed clinical social worker describes how cognitive-behavioral therapy effectively treats anxiety. Video produced by AnxietyTraining.com
Treating Anxiety Disorders, Part 5 (of 6): Implementing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Details about how to implement cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating anxiety, specifically using exposure and response prevention (ERP), cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments (exposure to anxiety triggers)
Video produced by AnxietyTraining.com
Treating Anxiety Disorders, Part 6 (of 6): Complementary Approaches
How complementary approaches to treating anxiety can be effective, including family therapy, mindfulness (acceptance), exercise, yoga, and breathing. Video produced by AnxietyTraining.com
