Anyone with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)? Want to have a support thread?

[Mylittlepuds]

I'm certain I have this. Unexplained free floating worry about nothing rational really - am I going to gave a heart attack/brain seizure/go mad - and just a horrible, horrible confused feeling. It's really bad through the days and eases up when DH comes home, but not always.

I have to constantly reassure myself in my head that things are okay which makes me feel mental as this just isn't me! For example today I took DS to a soft play session that I've taken to him lots of times before. As usual I felt anxious, but no matter how much I reassured myself that nothing bad would happen - and knowing in my rational mind it wouldn't - I still can't shake the feeling. My days are spent like this and it's exhausting. I feel like I'm battling against my own mind - and why?! Why can't it work with me not against me?

My problems started after the birth of DS 19 months ago. I'm 21 weeks pregnant with DC2 - a surprise! A lovely one but I just need to get this GAD sorted. I'm starting CBT tomorrow although don't want to build my hopes up.

Anyone else like me out there?

[chocoluvva]

Yes. It's as if my brains's default setting is, 'Oh no/Oh dear'.

I think I was like this for as long as I can remember and didn't even realise I wasn't normal for a long time.
No experience of CBT but I've found it helpful to speak to myself internally and remind myself that there's nothing to worry about. Then I forget and start thinking 'Oh dear' again and it really does help.It's like a habit with me.

[frillynat81]

I have GAD alongside a few other MH problems. I have tried lots of things to help - some good, some awful. I had CBT years ago and it worked well for me at the time. Now with a combination of medication and techniques learnt after years spent seeing mental health professionals, my condition is pretty well controlled. There is light at the end of the tunnel

[Mylittlepuds]

Aww thank you for the replies

It's kind of a relief to know its not just me. It does feel like you're fighting with yourself sometimes and I think "This is bloody ridiculous!".

Choco - it's definitely my default setting too! Worry, worry, worry.

Frills - thanks for the hope! What meds are you on and did they help with the GAD?

[Toomanycandles]

Hi, I've recently started CBT for my anxiety issues. I've been dealing with it on and off for about ten years. It's early days, but I'm hoping the CBT is going to be useful. How did you find your first session Mylittlepuds?
I've also used medication which has helped before. At the moment, I just keep telling myself 'This will pass.' and hoping it will.

[frillynat81]

Puds, I am on a few different meds - Venlafaxine, Propranalol, Lamotrigine and Topirimate - but these aren't just for the GAD. When do you start your CBT? x

[Mylittlepuds]

I had first session Fri! The counsellor was absolutely lovely. She picked out that the root of my fear is surrounding death/not existing and she's right - so that's what we're going to explore.

Did you get a diagnosis for GAD frilly?

[frillynat81]

Yeah I have a diagnosis of GAD puds, alongside Borderline Personality Disorder. It sounds as though your first CBT session went well?! x

[Mylittlepuds]

What are the symptoms of borderline personality disorder Frilly? Also do any of you feel kind of dizzy and then worried the dizziness is something 'wrong'?

[frillynat81]

Gosh, Borderline is a complex thing to sum up! You should google it if you are interested hun. Yeah, I do get dizzy and light headed, I also have twitches, sweats, legs turn to jelly, feel sick etc. It's a horrible thing to have to live with. X

[Mylittlepuds]

Is your dizziness etc seemingly connected to any stressors? Mine doesn't seem to be...that's what's so frustrating! I will Google as I am interested. X

[frillynat81]

Well! It's funny you should ask that because I went through a spell of a good few months of having symptoms pretty much continuous! I think it's a case of maybe little things that you aren't noticing are making you anxious perhaps? When I think back to the amount of things that made me nervous/anxious, there was no wonder I was permanently riddled with all the symptoms!!! Do you take any medication? I'd really like to come off my beta blockers now (propranalol). Do you use any coping techniques? x

[Mylittlepuds]

Well I've had two really good days - you know the ones that truck you into thinking you're fine - and then today the weirdness again. I was fine this morning but then my mum called to tell me about loads of people dying (helpful (!) but she didn't realise it would upset me, bless her) and that's when my husband said I started to go down hill, saying I was dizzy etc. it feels really physical but it's not if that makes sense? I'm not actually off balance - its just a kind of lightheaded-something-is-going-to-go-wrong-with-me feeling. Writing it down I see it's classic anxiety but today I really felt I needed to go to the docs for an all over check just to make sure...does that sound totally mad?

No I'm not on anything. I'm pregnant so that's one reason but the other is that I would be petrified to take that step and feel the uncertainty and possible extra symptoms could actually make things worse.

Do you really feel they help you? Could you do without? I'm interested as if when this baby arrives my anxiety goes mental again I may need to reconsider.

[frillynat81]

You sound so panicky, wish I could give you a hug! What you are describing does make sense. Do you need a lot of reassurance from people? Does talking help you to calm down? Well my meds help with the Borderline and the beta blockers are for anxiety, I've been on them for so long I just feel like I should cut back. I've had the dosage halved already about a year ago and it was fine but my worry is plucking one medication from the combination I'm on and everything goes t*ts up again! Whilst you are pregnant you should look into breathing techniques that you can use. X

[frillynat81]

Some people do need a combination of talking therapy and medication, not one or the other. If you feel you need something more once the baby's born, ask your go. x