Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Feels Constant

If you feel like your mind is always racing—constantly worrying about different aspects of life—it may be more than just everyday stress.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves persistent, excessive worry that can feel difficult to control. It often shows up as ongoing tension, overthinking, and a sense that something might go wrong.

At Dear Therapy, we specialize in helping individuals reduce chronic worry and regain control over anxiety using evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

We offer therapy in Atlanta and virtually, so support is accessible wherever you are.

What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by frequent, ongoing worry across multiple areas of life, such as:

  • Health

  • Work or school

  • Relationships

  • Finances

  • Daily responsibilities

Unlike situational stress, GAD feels:
Constant, hard to turn off, and mentally exhausting

Common Symptoms of GAD

GAD affects both the mind and body.

Mental symptoms:

  • Constant overthinking

  • Difficulty controlling worry

  • “What if” thinking

  • Expecting the worst-case scenario

  • Trouble relaxing

Physical symptoms:

  • Muscle tension

  • Restlessness

  • Fatigue

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Feeling on edge

Many people with GAD feel like:
Their brain never fully “shuts off”

The Cycle of Anxiety and Worry

GAD often follows a pattern:

  1. A thought or concern appears

  2. Worry increases

  3. You try to solve or prevent it

  4. Temporary relief

  5. New worry appears

The brain learns that worrying is necessary—so it keeps doing it

Why Worry Feels Hard to Stop

Worry can feel productive, like:

  • “If I think about it enough, I’ll prevent something bad”

But in reality:
Worry keeps your brain stuck in a loop of anxiety

The more you engage with it:
The more automatic it becomes

How Therapy Helps with GAD

At Dear Therapy, we use CBT and ERP-based approaches to help you break the cycle of worry.

Therapy helps you:

  • Reduce overthinking and mental loops

  • Increase tolerance for uncertainty

  • Let go of constant problem-solving

  • Respond differently to anxious thoughts

  • Feel more present and in control

Instead of trying to eliminate all worry, you learn:
You don’t need to engage with every thought

What Therapy Looks Like

Our approach is structured, practical, and focused on real-life change.

You can expect:

  • A clear understanding of your worry patterns

  • Tools to reduce overthinking and rumination

  • Gradual exposure to uncertainty

  • Practice responding differently to anxious thoughts

  • Ongoing support and guidance

Over time, you’ll notice:
Less mental noise and more clarity

Who This Is For

We work with:

  • Individuals experiencing constant or excessive worry

  • People who feel mentally overwhelmed or “on edge”

  • Those struggling with overthinking and difficulty relaxing

  • Individuals whose anxiety is affecting sleep, work, or relationships

If your anxiety feels constant and hard to control, treatment can help.

Start Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

You don’t have to live with constant worry or mental exhaustion.

With the right support, it’s possible to:
Feel calmer, think more clearly, and regain control over your mind