Medication

• One route of treatment for GAD is prescription medication. The three main types of medications prescribed for GAD are buspirone, benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Buspirone is regarded as a safer anxiety medication because it is not habit-forming like benzodiazepines and does not take several weeks to become effective like antidepressants. When GAD is treated with prescription medication, it is often just a temporary treatment. GAD is better treated in the long-term with psychotherapy, so medication may be used as a way to calm the nerves at the start of treatment but be removed as a part of treatment later on.
  
  

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a commonly used type of psychotherapy for GAD. CBT takes a comprehensive approach, educating the patient about her disorder and teaching her to identify irrational or anxious thoughts. When a patient learns to identify his irrational thoughts, he can learn physical and emotional strategies to control nervousness and anxiety. A major part of this therapy is focused on arming patients with behavioral strategies to control anxiety, such as deep breathing exercises, time management strategies and problem-solving skills.
  
  

Self-Help Options

• If you suffer from GAD, you may want to know what kind of things you can do yourself to ease your worries and anxiety. You can make some lifestyle changes that may help put your mind at ease, such as cutting out caffeine or starting to exercise more. Another option is to employ some type of relaxation technique when stress is high. Quiet meditation or deep-breathing are two simple options for getting yourself to relax. You also can try aromatherapy with calming scents such as lavender, chamomile or vanilla.