What exactly is General Anxiety Disorder - Anxiety Message Board

missy222 · 08-20-2009, 09:49 PM

I have recently been diagnosed with GAD and I wonder exactly what this is. Don't you have to have something to be anxious about in order to get it? I live a realtively calm life and don't understand why I am so anxious. Does that mean that something is wrong with my brain or nervous system or what?

I just don't understand it at all. I do not want to take the anxiety medication my doctor has prescribed (Lorazepam 0.5 mg), but for sure I can't go on like I am.

So my question is, what actually causes this condition?

Feeling stupid, but boy, I just don't understand!

Missy

calidreaming · 08-20-2009, 11:02 PM

Honestly, to me... its worrying about every little thing to the worse degree. For example, if I think I left the curling iron on... the house will catch on fire. If I feel something out of place on my body... it must be cancer. Very irrational and daunting thinking.

When my GAD came about... I was a sophomore in college happy with a boyfriend. There really was nothing about me that would have caused such anxiety in my life. I firmly believe its just something some people get...and some people do not.

GodHand · 08-23-2009, 07:08 PM

Yeah basically for me it's when my mind gets fixated on something to the point where it causes me to be extremely anxious. Usually it's something very minor, too, and it's never positive. You run a million different scenarios through your head until you're paranoid. It also causes physical problems like heart palpitations, blood pressure spikes, insomnia, weight loss/gain, etc. It's tricky to diagnose because usually for an anxiety diagnosis you have to have every other test under the sun performed to rule everything else out.

gigi11 · 08-24-2009, 03:28 PM

Basically, your thinking too much or it could be chemical imbalance. I have a combination of both. Mine didn't start till my first divorce. I got it real bad I had to seek therapy because I didn't believe in medication and I still don't. I meditate and go to a accupuncturist - I might seek a therapist. I have problems with my stomach from having my gallbladder removed and I had every test out there and no doctor can help me with my stomach problems so when I have indigestion I get anxiety and get real nervous. So with that my mind goes crazy and I think the worse which is death. Normal people would just say oh it is just indigestion the burp will come up and go about their day.