Coping and Support for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Stkittprincess's picture
Posted Wed, 04/01/2009 - 13:01 by Stkittprincess
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Good Afternoon Dear Friends,

This will wrap up my information on Generalized Anxiety Disorder. We will start a new disorder with my next entry.

Coping and Support

Living with generalized anxiety disorder can truly be difficult. In addition to dealing with excessive worry, you may also have feelings of depression to cope with. Ultimately, anxiety may affect your interaction with friends and family, your productivity at work, and the overall quality of your life.

Still, there are healthy ways to cope with generalized anxiety disorder, even when it becomes a chronic condition that may always have a small presence in your life.

Some ways to cope with generalized anxiety disorder include:

Joining an anxiety support group. Here, you can find compassion, understanding and shared experiences.

Taking action. Work with your mental health provider to figure out what's making you anxious and address it. For example, if finances are your concern, work toward drawing up a budget.

Letting it go. Don't dwell on past concerns. Change what you can and let the rest take its course. Repeat as needed.

Breaking the cycle. When you feel anxious, take a brisk walk or delve into a hobby to refocus your mind away from your worries.
Taking care of yourself. Get enough rest, eat a balanced diet, exercise and take time to relax. Avoid caffeine and nicotine, which can worsen anxiety. Don't turn to alcohol or unprescribed drugs for relief.

Sticking to your treatment plan. Take medications as directed. Keep therapy appointments. Consistency can help keep your treatment plan on track.

Socializing. Don't let worries make you isolated from loved ones or enjoyable activities. Touching base with others offers a healthy diversion.

Peace,
Kitt

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