Common GAD Myths – And the Truth, Too!
Anxiety therapy is one of the services we offer here at Psych Blossom. It is an invaluable therapy for people living with general anxiety disorder (GAD). To be sure, many of the good people who come to us for anxiety therapy bring with them a whole host of GAD myths. One of our goals is to replace those myths with the truth.
There are far too many GAD myths to talk about in a single blog post, but we will highlight a few of them here. If you are interested in learning about many more GAD myths, check out this infographic from the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA).
Myth #1: Repressing Your Thoughts Is Good
It is a common belief among new anxiety therapy patients that they can repress bad thoughts by snapping a rubber band on their wrists. The rubber band allegedly acts as a reminder, as well as uncomfortable motivation, to push negative thoughts away. It can be done, but doing it isn't a smart move.
Repressing the thoughts that accompany GAD only makes them worse. Repressed thoughts tend to occur more frequently. They also tend to be more powerful. So no, repressing your thoughts is not good if you live with GAD.
Myth #2: GAD Is Only Treatable with Medication
GAD is a mood disorder similar to depression in some ways. And like depression, it doesn't have to be treated with medication. Unfortunately, the medication myth persists. So many people believe that the only way to address GAD is to medicate.
As a specialist in anxiety therapy, I know firsthand that there are other options. Numerous talking therapies – particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – have proved particularly useful.
Myth #3: Effective Therapy Goes Back to Childhood
In terms of anxiety treatments, one of the biggest myths is that therapy must go back to childhood. This myth is rooted in the belief that anxiety disorders are the result of some sort of childhood trauma. That trauma needs to be uncovered to properly treat the disorder.
Actually, the opposite is true. Research studies have shown that emphasizing the here and now in anxiety therapy produces much better results. It is better to work with patients to develop new skills, behaviors, and ways of thinking rather than going back to the past.
Myth #4: Living a Healthy Life Solves the Problem
The final myth we will discuss in this post suggests that living a healthy life will cure GAD. A person living with anxiety need only start eating right, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep to fix things. Well, overcoming GAD is not that easy.
Living a healthy lifestyle certainly can help. Everything from regular exercise to better nutrition makes it easier for the body to deal with physical, emotional, and mental stress. But GAD is a mood disorder that both affects the thoughts and emotions and is affected by them.
For many GAD patients, the key to successful treatment involves things like facing one's fears, learning new facts, and learning how to tolerate or cope with things that cannot be changed. None of this is possible through merely changing what you eat and getting enough exercise and sleep.
We Can Help with GAD
If you have been diagnosed with GAD or suspect you may be living with an anxiety disorder, we can help. Anxiety therapy is among the services we offer in the Miami area. We offer both in-person and online counseling designed to help you understand your thoughts and feelings. If you would like to know more, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help.
