General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) strikes people worldwide, including children, with vague, intense anxiety and panic.
Self-care
These tips may help reduce your anxiety:
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Take action. Determine what's making you anxious and address it. For example, if finances are your concern, draw up a budget.
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Let it go. Don't dwell on past concerns. Change what you can and let the rest take its course.
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Break the cycle. When you feel anxious, take a brisk walk or delve into a hobby to refocus.
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Take 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.
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Talk to someone. Share your problems with a friend or professional counselor who can help you gain perspective.
Coping skills
Living with GAD can be difficult. In addition to dealing with excessive worry, you may find that other conditions, such as depression, often accompany GAD and can make you feel even more anxious or worrisome. Ultimately, anxiety may affect your interaction with friends and family, your productivity at work, and the overall quality of your life.
You may find that talking to a counselor or therapist can help you cope with the effects of GAD. Or you may find encouragement and understanding in an anxiety support group. Although support groups aren't for everyone, they can be good sources of information. Group members often know about the latest treatments and tend to share their own experiences. If you're interested, your doctor may be able to recommend a group in your area.
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