“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
– Jon Kabat-Zinn
1 in 3 California adults experience symptoms of anxiety or depression every year. In 2022 alone, more than half a million California residents sought mental health support. This leaves many people who experienced symptoms but didn’t get help – why? For some, it boils down to misunderstanding or lack of education. If you don’t understand the symptoms you or a loved one are experiencing, it’s easier to overlook treatment as an option. At Wings Recovery Center, we not only educate on mental health conditions but also provide top-quality care to all who need it. If you’ve experienced consistent symptoms of anxiety but are unsure where to turn, we’re here to help.
What We Treat: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
We all experience stress and worry from time to time, but for people living with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), these emotions are long-lasting and often without a clear source. They interfere with daily life, causing you to change your routines in an attempt to quell your concerns. On top of that, GAD can contribute to a range of physical ailments, too, such as a worsened immune system and changes in appetite and sleep patterns. If you don’t have generalized anxiety disorder, it’s easy to be dismissive of their lived experiences. Sayings like, “It’s not that big of a deal,” and, “You’re overreacting,” are common, unfortunately. The general misunderstanding of how anxiety disorders function and impact individuals leads to stigma and lack of treatment. Generalized anxiety disorder is more than just a little worry, it’s a mental health condition outside of a person’s control. It deserves support and compassion, and through treatment, it can be managed. Our team at Wings Recovery Center has years of experience guiding people to a life of healing. We’re here to help you reclaim your time and provide long-lasting support for generalized anxiety disorder.
How We Treat: Our Trauma-Informed Approach to Mental Healing
While anxiety can develop due to genetics, the most common source behind anxiety is learned and lived experiences – otherwise known as trauma. Trauma is a vast and complicated thing that occurs more often than you think. In fact, 1 in 4 San Diego County residents say that they experienced 4 or more adverse childhood experiences before the age of 18. How many of these people found support and treatment to address these ACEs? Through our trauma-informed approach to healing, we focus on you. It’s not just about trauma, though that is at the root of what we do. A trauma-informed approach seeks to find the cause of your mental health and address that directly alongside your healing. This provides a strong foundation for long-term healing.
Understanding the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder come in physical, mental, and behavioral forms. No two people will experience the same combination of symptoms at the same severity. However, your symptoms can also change over time, so knowing about the most common symptoms can help you spot them if they happen.
| Physical Side Effects | Mental Side Effects | Behavioral Side Effects |
| Having a new or worsening tremor | Having increased difficulties concentrating | Being jumpy and/or startling easy |
| Nausea and decrease in appetite | Decrease in overall sleep quality and consistency | Avoiding things or people you usually enjoy |
| Excessive sweating | Having trouble relaxing | Increased irritability |
| Feeling light-headed or out of breath frequently | Having increased difficulties in decision-making | Worrying frequently about small or everyday things |
| New or worsening headaches and overall body pains | Experiencing anxiety or panic attacks | Having difficulties controlling your emotions |
How Does Generalized Anxiety Disorder Overlap With Other Conditions?
Many symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder overlap with other similar conditions. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for someone to have co-occurring mental health conditions or more than one mental health condition at the same time. The two types of mental health conditions with the most overlap are others that fall under the same umbrella of anxiety disorders. These include panic disorders and phobias. These conditions also involve overwhelming anxiety that interrupts daily life. Obsessive-compulsive disorder was previously listed as a form of anxiety, though it now has been recognized as its own classification. The same can be said for post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of trauma. These conditions have a lot of overlap with generalized anxiety and anxiety disorders but aren’t exactly the same. People living with a substance or alcohol use disorder can also exhibit symptoms of anxiety or develop an anxiety disorder as a result of their substance use.
When Does Anxiety Need Treatment?
Everyone feels anxious sometimes, so what sets aside occasional anxiety from a type of anxiety that’s in need of treatment? First, it’s important to note that just because one person is living with higher or more consistent anxiety than another doesn’t mean they’re at fault for doing so. Anxiety disorders aren’t a choice. People living with generalized anxiety disorders have their lives disrupted by their side effects. Their anxiety leads to increased stress, minimal or neglected self-care, and can even be a cause of illness. If you’re still uncertain about if your anxiety is worth treatment, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
- Are you frequently unable to quell your worries or fears?
- Does your anxiety interfere with activities you want to do and enjoy doing?
- Has your anxiety led to physical side effects like headaches or nausea?
- Has your anxiety decreased your eating and sleep habits?
- Do you often feel like your fears are over the top or excessive, yet you’re unable to do anything about it?
- Have you had to alter the way you live your life in an attempt to feel less anxious?
- Have your loved ones expressed concern about your behaviors?
- Is your anxiety persistent?
- Have your anxious thoughts and feelings taken up most of your time for at least half a year or longer?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you should talk to your doctor about generalized anxiety disorder treatment.
What Does Treatment for Anxiety Consist Of?
Anxiety treatment generally consists of talk therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectal behavioral therapy. These are used in combination with other elements of treatment, such as experiential therapies, holistic approaches, and much more. At the core of anxiety treatment is a drive to locate the source of your emotions and reactions. From there, you work with your team to relearn responses and identify triggers ahead of time. Each journey for mental health healing is unique. This is due to how pivotal life experiences are in shaping your overall mental health. No two people are the same, so the skills that work for one person may not work for another. This is why our team at Wings Recovery takes such a hands-on approach to your healing. You’ll have a team committed to your recovery journey, altering and shaping it as you move along in order to best suit your needs.
How is Generalized Anxiety Disorder Diagnosed?
When seeking a diagnosis for any mental health condition, it’s not uncommon for your doctor or other medical professionals to do a physical exam first. Several physical ailments lead to behavioral symptoms, so it’s important to rule those out before diagnosing. From there, you may be asked about your family’s medical and mental health history. If you have loved ones who are also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, the odds of you having it are higher. Finally, depending on your doctor, you may be moved to a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment. 
Your Treatment Options for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in San Diego Through Wings Recovery
You don’t need to wait to get started with your healing journey. Anxiety doesn’t have to be in charge of your life, so take the first step now. With our specialized, gender-specific programming and a team dedicated to you and your recovery, you’re in good hands at Wings Recovery Center. We offer supportive housing, residential treatment, and outpatient programming at various levels so you can find what best suits your needs. Call us today at 888-790-9377, and we’ll happily answer any questions you may have. Wings – Rising to Meet Recovery