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Category

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

We all go through times where we feel stressed out and anxious about the future. People who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) find themselves unable to control their persistent worry and fear. This worry can be ongoing and can expand to interfere with their daily activities, relationships, and personal satisfaction with life. Molina Psychiatric Associates understands how challenging it can be to live with GAD, and we are here for you when you decide to reach out for help.

Your experience with us begins when you make a phone call or use our online form to get in contact. We will schedule an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation, take a complete medical history, and have you answer questions about the symptoms you are having. Dr. Molina will then use his 25 years of expertise to provide an accurate diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan.

We understand that you know yourself better than anyone, so we always listen to your input and come up with a plan that takes your feelings into consideration. If one medicine isn’t effective, we will try another. If a dosage needs to be increased or decreased, we will do that. The goal is to give you a better quality of life with few or no side effects.

About GAD

Generalized anxiety disorder can develop in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Is affects slightly more women than men and is often diagnosed alongside other anxiety or mood disorders. Over time, anxiety can grow to be disproportionate to the actual impact of events. The person might be unable to stop their fearful thoughts. In some cases, the worries are so persistent and debilitating that they prevent the person from engaging in a normal life.

Symptoms of GAD

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can include:

  • Persistent and Unwarranted Anxiety
  • Overthinking Plans and Decisions
  • Always Anticipating Worst-Case Scenarios
  • Indecisiveness
  • Inability to Drop an Issue
  • Inability to Set Worries Aside
  • Restlessness and Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep Disturbance
  • Tense or Achy Muscles
  • Jumpiness
  • Sweating
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

A child or teen with GAD may exhibit the following symptoms:

  • Excessive Worry about Grades
  • Worry About Unlikely Scenarios
  • Striving for Approval
  • Trying too Hard to Fit In
  • Perfectionism
  • Low Self-Confidence
  • Nausea or Other Stomach Ailments
  • Missing School
  • Requiring Constant Reassurance
  • Spending Excessive Time Doing Homework

Younger children might worry too much about the safety of their family members or pets, even when there is no danger to any of them. Others worry about severe weather, nuclear war, or abandonment. The anxiety is very real to them and causes them great distress.

What Causes GAD?

As with most things, your chance of developing GAD comes down to a combination of nature and nurture; that is, you can be genetically predisposed to it, and you can also develop it because of traumatic experiences in your life.

If you have other anxiety disorders, or if your family members tend to have them, your chances of developing GAD are greater. Your personality also makes a difference. If you’re someone who fusses over details and worries about making the wrong decision, you could be at a higher risk for GAD. People with a generally laid-back temperament suffer less from it.

Treatments for GAD

The most successful treatment plans for GAD take a three-pronged approach to recovery. First, psychotherapy is extremely helpful for identifying the source of your anxiety, helping you learn to recognize your triggers, and coming up with holistic solutions that allow you to self-sooth in the moment.

Natural treatments such as yoga, journaling, meditation, and listening to soothing music can ease symptoms of GAD. Some people feel more secure when they sleep beneath a weighted blanket made specially for this purpose. A healthy diet and regular sleep schedule can also help patients cope with their anxiety.

As a licensed psychiatrist, Dr. Molina can prescribe anti-anxiety medications to help you through the most challenging times. These could include antidepressants, mild sedatives, or sleep medications. He welcomes all of your questions and explains each of his recommendations in detail so that you are never left to wonder about side effects or dosages.

Molina Psychiatric Associates: We Bring You Peace of Mind

When you’re ready to put aside needless anxiety, we are here to help. We are proud to serve the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area. Give us a call or fill out our convenient online form and we will put you on the path to a better tomorrow.

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Address

Molina Psychiatric Associates, P.A.

2485 E. Southlake Blvd.,
Suite 100,
Southlake, Texas 76092

Phone

817-873-0595

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday: 7am - 4pm
Fridays: Closed

Email

scheduling@molinapsychiatricassociates.com