General Anxiety (GAD) Treatment | Agan Health, Bengaluru & Trichy

What is General Anxiety (GAD)?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a clinical condition defined by excessive anxiety and worry about multiple daily matters (work, health, finances, relationships) that persists for at least six months.

Unlike normal stress, this worry is:

Persistent and difficult to control

Functionally impairing — it interferes with school, work, or relationships

Paired with physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, and disturbed sleep

If any of these symptoms resonate with you or a loved one, know that you're not alone - and help is available.

Understanding the Different Faces of Mood Struggles

Worry loops

“What if…?” thoughts that shift from topic to topic and won’t switch off

Body tension

muscle tightness, headaches, stomach upset, racing heart

Sleep problems

difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking unrefreshed

Focus issues

mind going blank, easily distracted, poor productivity

Behavioral impact

avoidance of stressful situations, or over-preparing and over-checking

Why it matters

Without treatment, GAD increases risk of depression, substance use, and physical health conditions like hypertension and digestive problems.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Persistent worry about everyday matters for ≥6 months, difficult to control, plus restlessness, fatigue, poor focus, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance.

Panic Disorder

Sudden surges of intense fear with palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest pain, often followed by fear of future attacks.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

Fear of social or performance situations where embarrassment is possible; leads to avoidance.

Specific Phobias

Intense, irrational fear of specific objects or situations (flying, heights, injections, animals).

Agoraphobia

Fear of being in places where escape may be hard; severe cases may lead to being housebound.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Excessive fear of separation from loved ones; seen in both children and adults.

Selective Mutism

Inability to speak in certain settings despite speaking normally in others; mainly in children.

Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety caused by stimulants, caffeine, alcohol withdrawal, or certain medications.

Anxiety Due to a Medical Condition

Anxiety directly linked to illnesses such as thyroid disease, heart arrhythmia, or respiratory disorders.

General Anxiety Across Life Stages & Demographics

Children & Teens

Excessive worry about school or family safety, irritability, stomachaches/headaches. Sometimes mistaken for shyness or defiance.

Young Adults

Academic and career stress, financial pressure, or identity struggles. Often leads to burnout or avoidance.

Women

Higher prevalence due to hormonal and social factors; can overlap with depression or PMDD.

Men

May present as irritability, anger, or overworking instead of describing “worry.” Stigma often delays treatment.

Older Adults

Worries about health, safety, or independence; symptoms may overlap with medical conditions.

Workplace & Students

Perfectionism, performance anxiety, and fear of failure that harm productivity, sleep, and relationships.

How Agan Health Helps with Anxiety

Treatment for anxiety works best when it combines evidence-based psychotherapy, carefully considered medication when needed, and lifestyle strategies. The goal is not just to reduce symptoms but to build long-term resilience and relapse prevention.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Gold-standard treatment for anxiety. Helps identify and challenge catastrophic thinking, practice exposure to worries, and break avoidance patterns. Around 60–70% of people improve significantly with CBT.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Teaches acceptance of anxious thoughts and focus on living by values, reducing avoidance.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills

Distress tolerance, mindfulness, and emotion regulation modules to calm the nervous system during high anxiety.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Reduces relapse risk by building awareness and self-regulation through meditation practices.

Applied Relaxation Training

Muscle relaxation and breathing regulation that lower physical arousal.

SSRIs (sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine)

First-line medications for GAD, effective in 2–6 weeks. Continued 6–12 months after improvement.

SNRIs (venlafaxine, duloxetine)

Effective alternative, especially if chronic pain is also present.

Buspirone

Non-sedating option, often added when SSRIs/SNRIs are not enough.

Pregabalin

Beneficial in some cases where antidepressants aren’t tolerated.

Benzodiazepines

Rapid relief but not recommended long-term due to dependence risk. Used only short-term or as bridge therapy.

Beta-blockers

Useful for performance-related anxiety (e.g., public speaking).

Sleep hygiene

Consistent schedules, no screens before bed, relaxation rituals.

Exercise

Aerobic activity lowers baseline anxiety and boosts resilience.

Nutrition

Reduce caffeine, alcohol, nicotine.

Relaxation practices

Breathing, yoga, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation.

Support systems

Family and social involvement lower relapse risk.

CBT

Typically 12–20 sessions with between-session practice.

Medication

Continued for at least 6–12 months after improvement; taper under supervision.

Monitoring

Regular follow-ups using GAD-7 or similar tools to track progress.

What Treatment Looks Like at Agan Health

Initial Assessment

Comprehensive evaluation and baseline GAD-7 score.

Personalized Plan

Tailored therapy and/or medication.

Therapy Sessions

Structured, skills-based CBT, mindfulness, or DBT skills training.

Medication Support

Introduced only when needed, with close monitoring.

Lifestyle Coaching

Sleep, exercise, diet, and stress regulation.

Relapse Prevention

Long-term skills to prevent recurrence.

FAQ’s

No. Many people benefit from therapy alone, while others respond better to a combination of therapy and medication. We decide collaboratively.

Yes, we offer both in-person and virtual sessions for convenience and accessibility.

A proper diagnosis involves clinical evaluation over time. Our team can guide you with a personalized assessment plan.

Therapy can stir up emotions initially, but over time, it helps you manage and process them in healthier ways.

Anxiety doesn’t have to control your life. With the right care, peace of mind is possible.

Agan Health is a psychological wellness and mental healthcare centre functioning to help children, adults, women, and the elderly suffering from psychological conditions like anxiety, depression, stress, ADHD and others to break their mental shackles and reinstate them into society.

Bengaluru

BDA complex, 717/1, 16th Main, 6th B Cross Rd, above Child Central Clinic, 3rd Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560034

Mobile - 8068301212

Trichy

#9-A, EVR Road, Aruna Nagar, Puthur, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620017

Mobile - 7810073585

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What is General Anxiety (GAD)?

Understanding the Different Faces of Mood Struggles

Worry loops

Body tension

Sleep problems

Focus issues

Behavioral impact

Types of Anxiety Disorders