Hello, everyone. I was diagnosed with GAD a couple of weeks ago and am still adjusting to this new knowledge about myself. I doubt there are many people without GAD who get what the experience is like, so I appreciate communities like this one.
I'm not worried about it in terms of identity, but I do have concerns about potential consequences, like job troubles or family stress, if anxiety strikes at the wrong time. I understand that those concerns could be setting the stage for another anxiety trigger, but I'm doing my best to keep it in check. I'm seeing a psychologist and know that medication is available if it gets to that point. For now, I'm taking valerian root and am learning to use the therapeutic tools that my psychologist taught me. I also got an anxiety workbook today.
When I say anxiety strikes, I mean that I've been having anxiety attacks. I don't think they're severe enough to be considered panic attacks. In certain situations, I'll get light-headed and feel mentally hazy. I went to the emergency room last year when I had my first full-on attack, and they ran a full battery of tests and didn't find anything physical. I followed up with my doctor, and he didn't see any indication of anything physical either. He was the first to mention anxiety, but he didn't go so far as to say GAD. The way he said anxiety, it sounded like I just needed to lower my stress levels. It subsided for several months after I spoke with the doctor and knew it was "just anxiety," until it hit again during a work function that I was leading. I had to end the event before it was finished, so I decided it was time to see a psychologist. That's when I got the diagnosis. As we were talking, I realized that an occurrence I had during my parents' divorce was an anxiety attack. I later remembered a couple of instances earlier in my childhood that might have also been anxiety attacks.
Overall stress levels are definitely a factor. I've spent most of my life without any anxiety attacks, so I think it's a matter of overall stress levels wearing me down until the irrational fears start taking hold.
So that's my story, or at least my current understanding of it. I'm looking forward to talking to you.
I'm not worried about it in terms of identity, but I do have concerns about potential consequences, like job troubles or family stress, if anxiety strikes at the wrong time. I understand that those concerns could be setting the stage for another anxiety trigger, but I'm doing my best to keep it in check. I'm seeing a psychologist and know that medication is available if it gets to that point. For now, I'm taking valerian root and am learning to use the therapeutic tools that my psychologist taught me. I also got an anxiety workbook today.
When I say anxiety strikes, I mean that I've been having anxiety attacks. I don't think they're severe enough to be considered panic attacks. In certain situations, I'll get light-headed and feel mentally hazy. I went to the emergency room last year when I had my first full-on attack, and they ran a full battery of tests and didn't find anything physical. I followed up with my doctor, and he didn't see any indication of anything physical either. He was the first to mention anxiety, but he didn't go so far as to say GAD. The way he said anxiety, it sounded like I just needed to lower my stress levels. It subsided for several months after I spoke with the doctor and knew it was "just anxiety," until it hit again during a work function that I was leading. I had to end the event before it was finished, so I decided it was time to see a psychologist. That's when I got the diagnosis. As we were talking, I realized that an occurrence I had during my parents' divorce was an anxiety attack. I later remembered a couple of instances earlier in my childhood that might have also been anxiety attacks.
Overall stress levels are definitely a factor. I've spent most of my life without any anxiety attacks, so I think it's a matter of overall stress levels wearing me down until the irrational fears start taking hold.
So that's my story, or at least my current understanding of it. I'm looking forward to talking to you.
