Anxiety and anger affect most people - good news is that it is treatable

Anxiety and anger are treatable.

Anxiety affects nearly everyone at some time in their life, often in different ways. But for some, anxiety can become a problem all its own.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is a state of mind which is characterized by nearly constant, overwhelming, worry. People who suffer with GAD often have unrealistic or exaggerated fears which can lead to obsessive thoughts and self defeating behaviors. This type of anxiety often interferes with normal daily activities such as personal relationships, work, school and social activities.

Millions of people suffer with GAD, and a new study suggests that anger may be what fuels the fire.

Graduate student, Sonya Deschênes and her colleagues at Concordia and Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, assessed 380 participants to see what role anger played in their condition. The researchers found that those who suffered with GAD symptoms also had high levels hostility and internalized anger, which intensified their anxiety.

Commenting on her study’s findings, Deschênes said:

"When a situation is ambiguous, such that the outcome could be good or bad, anxious individuals tend to assume the worst. That often results in heightened anxiety. There is also evidence of that same thought process in individuals who are easily angered. Therefore, anger and GAD may be two manifestations of the same biased thought process."

Deschênes believes that therapy may need to target any underlying anger along with the anxiety to achieve the greatest benefit.

The study was published in the latest issue of Cognitive Behavior Therapy.