What is GAD like for you?

[lbanxiety]

Hi everyone , I hope you are all doing okay 💗

I've struggled with anxiety most of my life, since I was 11 I'm now 23. My anxiety is mostly health anxiety, constantly diagnosing myself with life threatening illness, thinking I'm going to drop dead any minute, a headache = I have 2 days to live. I'm a hypochondriac. My heart is constantly beating out of my chest, I get dizzy and shaky , i dissociate and taking panic attacks where I hyperventilate.

I completed 2 years of CBT in the past & seen the GP where I was prescribed propranolol , I was offered sertraline & other medications but I was absolutely terrified to get worse before getting better. & my anxiety won't let me take medications due to fear of side effects etc. I won't even take paracetamol....

After being prescribed propranolol it took me 3 weeks to build the courage to take one, I was so scared incase my heart slowed down too much and stopped etc, after only being on them a few days I found out I was pregnant so stopped taking them so I've never really knew what they were like. I have a gp appt next week to discuss my anxiety and I'm going to see if I can get propranolol again (let me know your experience with medication propranolol or sertraline / whatever you take)

Anyway, the point of this post. Like I said I have severe health anxiety but I wonder sometimes is it GAD (generalised anxiety disorder)

I am always scared, even if nothings on my mind. I am constantly anxious, I am scared of everything, I am scared of living, I am scared of dying, my heart drops when my phone rings, I am terrified of leaving the house incase I see a dog (I've had dogs as a child and never once had a bad experience) and I'm absolutely terrified of them. Im scared of leaving home incase something bad happens and I never return. I fear everything. I'm always on edge. Even when there's nothing in my mind I am so anxious and I won't know why.

I am petrified of taking contraception because of side affects and I'm in a relationship. Its absolutely ridiculous.

What does GAD look like for you?

I'm tired of living like this 💔

Going through exactly the same as you, absolutely awful xx

Yeah I'm similar - GAD since I was 11.

Afraid of many things, I survived a tough childhood so I had a few things to be afraid of, and I became hypervigilant as a result, which is fairly typical for childhood trauma.

I use journalling, medication, a course of CBT and cardiovascular exercise (raising my heart rate gets the adrenaline and cortisol working through my body, rather than me just fretting away overthinking things.)

I try to be kind to myself too, I'm doing my best and trying to find joy in small things. (While terrified) I stay off caffeine. I love it but it gives me The Fear big time.

I really sympathise @lbanxiety as since the birth of my second child my anxiety has been horrendous, I am on edge all the time, it’s relentless! I have taken propanalol as it is meant to stop the physical symptoms of anxiety, to be completely honest I have never really persevered with it as i think it might upset my stomach which is quite sensitive but I know others find it really effective! I currently take promethazine twice a day which my gp prescribed as it calms you down when your anxiety and I do find this helps. I’m also on antidepressants but it’s still early days so hoping they will help too. x

I could have written this post myself. I have debilitating health anxiety and also GAD. I was recently diagnosed with GAD and OCD and most recently have had some sort of breakdown although I'm feeling a little bit better. Like you, I'm terrified to take medications due to side effects. Im scared to leave the house, to drive my car, to do pretty much anything. I have a toddler and my anxiety massively ramped up after he was born. Pleas try and get it under control before he is born from first hand experience it will not get better. Sending hugs and solidarity. I know exactly how you feel.

What happened when you were 11?

@Whycantgiraffesdance I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I have experienced the same since my second child was born. Citalopram helped me a lot. I came off it after 8 months and I'm a lot better though still have bad bouts of it. But also times I'm ok. I hope things improve for you soon.
Also OP I'm really sorry and I can relate. Lately I've tried to tell myself to think of statistics of the actual chance of the crazy things that my brain thinks of happening and also visualise people I know doing those things and being fine. Just a strategy I made up but works a bit.

Thank you @wombpaloumbpa it’s horrible isn’t it, I think I’m beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel but the last few months have been pure hell, I barely recognised myself 🥺

Yes it's kind of unbelievable how different you can feel and the impact it can have on everything. There is a charity called PANDAS I found on instagram and they are really helpful if you have instagram x

Yes I do follow them on Instagram, thank you ☺️