Generalised Anxiety Disorder

What is generalised anxiety disorder?

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition which can lead you to become extremely anxious about different situations and issues rather than one specific event. It’s characterised by chronic, uncontrollable worrying.

 

People who suffer from Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt calm or relaxed. As soon as one anxious thought dissipates, another thought appears and takes hold for a completely different issue.

What are the symptoms of GAD?

There both psychological and physical symptoms of GAD and these are:

  • Restlessness
  • Feeling constantly ‘on edge’
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sense of dread
  • Fast, irregular heartbeat
  • Difficulties sleeping
  • Headaches
  • Excessive sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Irritability

Anxiety can manifest itself in lots of different ways and so this isn’t an exhaustive list. The most characteristic feature of Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the experience of endless and persistent worries that can feel very overwhelming.

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Treatment for GAD

Treatment for GAD is through a combination of medication and therapy. To begin with, we’ll carry out an initial assessment to explore which therapeutic approach you’ll most benefit from.

 

In some cases, medication will be prescribed on either a short-term or long-term basis. Your GP or our Consultant Psychiatrist can advise about this.

Frequently asked questions

If your anxiety has begun to interfere in your everyday life and relationships and it’s leaving you feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to seek professional help.
By default, anxiety is characterised by a feeling of vulnerability in the world. When external events increase this feeling of threat, you may find that your anxiety symptoms get worse.

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Dr Stacie Tay

Dr Stacie Tay attained her BSc (Hons) Psychology at the University of Nottingham and worked as a psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, before returning to the UK to complete her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University College London.   

Dr Tay has worked in a variety of settings within the NHS for more than eight years, including primary and secondary care, specialist psychological services and forensic inpatient settings. She currently works as a Clinical Psychologist at the North East London Foundation Trust.  

She has extensive experience working with individuals and groups, providing evidence-based psychological therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Mindfulness-based approaches as well as Schema-informed therapy.   

Dr Tay’s clinical experience involves working with people who present with a range of mild to severe mental health difficulties. This includes depression, anxiety (OCD, social anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, health anxiety, phobia-related disorders, PTSD), stress related issues, low self-esteem, complex trauma, interpersonal difficulties, grief and bereavement, and long-term health conditions.