How Does Medication Help Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

I don’t know about you, but there have been many a time when I have been sick and needed the assistance of medication to help me manage the pain and discomfort I was feeling. About 2 years ago, I went to Mexico on a weekend getaway with a friend of mine. It was my first time there and I was super excited. I’d read some articles prior to the trip, recommending that as a traveler, I stick to bottled water. 

         As is stated in this article by TravelAwaits.com, sanitation standards in Mexico are still different from what I was normally used to, and that’s why traveler’s tummy strikes. So, during my trip, I did my best to stick to bottled water. At one restaurant, I had a specialty beverage on the menu [and of course, it slipped my mind not to drink it because it contained water that I was unsure was purified]. This was my second day in Mexico and – the heat was unlike I’d ever experienced before. Aside from drinking this beverage, I had a difficult time with the intense heat.

         Needless to say, a few days after I came back home, I became incredibly sick. It was to the point that I took nearly a week off of work and needed the assistance of various over the counter medications, soups and teas to assist me in getting back to my normal healthy self. Had it not been for the over the counter medications, soups and teas, I imagine that I would not have recovered from this sickness at the rate that I did.

         Why did I share this story, you might be thinking? Well, it is important to be mindful and aware of how easily our needs can change, based on circumstance. It is important for me to state that I recommend you make contact with your specialized medical health professional to assist you in making the most informed decision for your physical body.

         The purpose of medication is to prevent, decrease, and relieve symptoms you experience that cause you increasing feelings of pain and discomfort. If you were to walk into a room and ask each person about their perspective of medication, I imagine you’d easily receive various answers. This is partly why it is important to speak to a qualified medication professional and to identify informed information.

         I previously discussed Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and talked about how excessive, intrusive, and persistent thoughts can be so disruptive to your everyday life, that they start to affect your ability to sleep through the night, cause you to experience tenseness and nausea in your body, and can cause your mind to race. Sometimes, things can work to help manage these symptoms, like: 

·      Identify what situations specifically increase these intrusive and persistent negative thoughts

·      Find additional ways to increase calm before the anxious thoughts get too intense for you [using your 5 senses and positive self-talk] 

·      Create a routine that incorporates elements of calmness, no matter the stressful situations you’re dealing with in your life

         There are other times, when you may identify that these alone don’t work to manage your symptoms of GAD. When you find yourself in this situation, it is important to have the conversation about medication for GAD with both your medical professional and with your licensed mental health counselor. Having both of these professionals in your life work together is called a treatment team.

         Just like if you were to have a cold [and may use various over the counter medications, soups and teas] – you may find that there comes a time when medication to decrease your mental health symptoms may be needed. Again, the purpose of medication is to prevent, decrease, and relieve symptoms you experience that cause you increasing feelings of pain and discomfort.

         It can often be taboo to talk about medication for mental health difficulties – why? We are in a time with society where the topic of mental health is coming more open, however there can be a lot of shame, guilt, or worry about openly talking about the specific needs we may have about our needs. It is important to remember that your health information is private and confidential! Additionally, you don’t have to share your health information with anyone that you don’t want to [give or take a few situations]. If you are a legal adult and do not have a power of attorney/guardian over you, your health information is for you to know, only.

         In my next post, I will take a deeper dive into the myths and general questions one may have regarding taking that next step with medication for your mental health difficulties. Feel free to reach out to me with additional questions you might have about this topic! dem@demthelmhc.com. You can additionally look for a mental health professional at: 

·      Open Path Collective – they offer low cost, high quality therapy!

·      Therapy for Black Girls – therapy for Black Women!

·      Psychology Today – has a large array of therapists – you can even filter the menu to identify a therapist based on insurance type, gender, age, ethnicity, and faith

Talk soon!