If you are new to getting help for an anxiety problem, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or someone who has already been getting treatment, it is important to know what types of things you should be asking and talking about with your psychologist or other treatment professional. The following list highlights the most important issues. For a breakdown of the
types of treatment professionals for GAD, click here.
1. The symptoms
It may seem obvious, but giving your therapist a detailed list of the symptoms you are experiencing is essential for accurate diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. Trust that your professional has heard everything you are going to tell him/her before, so be honest. Giving as much detail as possible about what is bothering you or seemingly abnormal throughout treatment can help get quicker results.
2. Why did this happen?
If you have found a therapist or someone that will be helping you with this problem, it is good to know how that person believes GAD or another anxiety problem has developed. There are a wide variety of perspectives on this, ranging from a purely biological view to a purely environmental view, with most people being somewhere in between. Having someone that is slightly different can be helpful, but you may start to have difficulty with someone that has a radically different view than your own.
3. What can I do on my own?
Many people believe that their once a week appointment or new prescription is all that can be done or needs to be done for improvement, which is not true. If you are really motivated to get a handle of your GAD, ask your provider what you can be doing when you are out of the office to make strides. This can dramatically speed up treatment and lead you to learn a batch of additional skills that you may have missed otherwise.
4. What treatment is the best for me?
Again, there are a wide variety of treatment options between medications and psychotherapy. Asking your doctor or treatment provider what the best treatment or course of treatment is can give you some insight in to how things will go with him/her or what you should be searching for in a provider. Additionally, think about what you are comfortable with for treatment. Not everyone with GAD takes or needs medication, and some people are very resistant to therapy.
5. Related problems (important)
Perhaps discussing problems related to your GAD is the most important issue on this list. Tell your therapist about your personal history and experience of anxiety — the things in your life that are chronic contributors to your worry and the things you hope for yourself. The more you can share, the better your therapist can guide treatment, getting you the quickest and best results.
