Do you think exposure would work for GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)?

GAD is characterized by excessive worry over real life situations, like finances, job, family, relationships, etc. In a nutshell, a GAD sufferer fears losing these things.

From what i've read GAD is OCD in a sense....it is excessive worry (and the worry itself takes on a ruminative, or ritualistic pattern).

Would it make sense, do you think, to treat GAD with exposure (meaning, a person afraid of job loss or other losses take actual risks or mini-risks to heighten their anxiety - i.e. purposely making a 'mistake' at work.)

Exposure for OCD works, because it is easy to determine whether you are taking an actual risk or not. But with GAD, there is real risk with any kind of exposure, because your initial worry is generally more 'reasonable' than OCD.

Please share your thoughts. Do you think exposure is a reasonable treatment, and if so, how would you attempt it?

-GAD sufferer

Yes, it's called conditioning. Read some B.F. Skinner.

Quite frankly, though I did experience extreme anxiety before I was laid off several years ago, it turns out that it was one of the best things that ever happened to me - very liberating.

i myself have GAD, and i see what you are saying but, i believe that exposure could go either way. I have often tested myself with exposing myself to what i am the most anxious about and it has went both ways. Sometimes i have realized that i can make it through what makes me so anxious, and other times it just has sent me into a tailspin of anxiety and made me feel even more anxious about the situation. i'm not sure if this is what you meant but that has been my experience with putting myself at risk for what worries me or causes me anxiety.

Any type of cognitive behavioral therapy, such as exposure therapy should be conducted under the guidance of a trained therapist. If things are not planned correctly, the results could exacerbate the condition. Get help before you try anything like that.

To a point, yes, exposure is helpful...but it won't cure it completely. I have had this problem for years, and am on medication (which doesn't do a lot for me). If you want to talk, send me a message and I will give you my email address. Try not to get down, it can get better!