GAD: Myths and Common Mistakes That Get in the Way of Recovery

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is surrounded by persistent myths. More often than not, it is these misconceptions — not the disorder itself — that become the main barrier to living a normal life.

Myth 1: "Just pull yourself together"

One of the most deeply rooted misbeliefs is treating chronic anxiety as a character flaw or a lack of self-discipline. In reality, anxiety as a disorder disrupts homeostasis — the stable internal equilibrium of the body. Until that balance is restored, no amount of willpower produces lasting results: thoughts keep spinning, and anxiety returns again and again.

Myth 2: "Distraction is enough — just watch some videos or streams"

A common mistake is trying to "drown out" anxiety with external stimulation: videos, news feeds, endless content consumption. This does not resolve the disorder; it merely masks the symptoms temporarily. Dr. Saulitis emphasises that the priority is to stop the thought-spinning and restore normal homeostasis first — only then is a person genuinely capable of working on conscious control of their thought processes.

Myth 3: "Medication is a last resort — better to manage on your own"

Another typical error is avoiding medical support on principle. When anxiety interferes with a person's ability to carry out everyday tasks, medication can be a necessary tool for restoring homeostasis — not an end point, but a condition that makes meaningful progress and real work on thinking patterns possible.

The key insight

The right sequence is not "endure and distract yourself," but: stabilise the condition first (with professional help if needed), then engage in deliberate work on managing thought patterns. Only in that order does a person gain real control over anxiety — rather than an illusion of control.