Generalized anxiety disorder.

• Elena wrote on 2012-03-10 00:38
  I have every single symptom. Not just occasionally either. On either a weekly or daily basis.
  
  I'm posting this now because I'm having what I call "one of those tense moments".
  
  

  Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can vary. They can include:
  
  Constant worrying or obsession about small or large concerns
  Restlessness and feeling keyed up or on edge
  Fatigue
  Difficulty concentrating or your mind "going blank"
  Irritability
  Muscle tension or muscle aches
  Trembling, feeling twitchy or being easily startled
  Trouble sleeping
  Sweating, nausea or diarrhea
  Shortness of breath or rapid heartbeat
  
  There may be times when your worries don't completely consume you, but you still feel anxious even when there's no apparent reason. For example, you may feel intense worry about your safety or that of your loved ones, or you may have a general sense that something bad is about to happen.

  
  
  I also have some of the other ones listed under like...
  
  

  n addition to the symptoms above, children and adolescents may have excessive worries about:
  
  Performance at school or sporting events
  Being on time (punctuality)
  Earthquakes, nuclear war or other catastrophic events
  
  
  You feel depressed, have trouble with drinking or drugs, or you have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
  
  You feel like you're worrying too much, and it's interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life

  
  
  Both my mother and grandmother have some sort of problem with anxiety, so it figures I'd have it too. It's just that I've been trying to push it down for so long. The real problem is that I can't afford to have a disorder, because I was booted off the free insurance when I reached a certain age, and wasn't able to get back on it. My parents can't afford insurance, either.
  
  A friend of my mom's made it so that I can go get a physical for free, and they're going to see if I qualify. God, I haven't been to the doctor in years. I never thought I would ever want to go to one so badly. I'm still at the point where even if I'm terrified, I can deal with things, so I don't want anyone to be all scared or anything. I'm already working on seeing a professional about it. I have an appointment to see the doctor on Monday. I just felt like it would do me some good to put this out in the open and have some sort of vent.
• Claudia wrote on 2012-03-10 00:45
  /hug
  
  I'm not really good at offering advice and stuff like that, but I like to think I can at least be there for people.
  I don't know your very well (besides your fashion tastes), but still. /hughughug
  If you need anything, we're all here for you! Everything is going to be a-ok.
• ValkyrieHamster wrote on 2012-03-10 00:48
  Are you also stressed out from art assignments? That can usually aggravate any kind of existing issues as well as bringing out some of the symptoms you've mentioned. I remember having all sorts of problems when I had major art projects due, or just in general during those classes.
• Elena wrote on 2012-03-10 01:06

  Quote from Claudia;802675:

  /hug
  
  I'm not really good at offering advice and stuff like that, but I like to think I can at least be there for people.
  I don't know your very well (besides your fashion tastes), but still. /hughughug
  If you need anything, we're all here for you! Everything is going to be a-ok.

  
  Really appreciate it. Every little thing counts. =)
  
  

  Quote from ValkyrieHamster;802676:

  Are you also stressed out from art assignments? That can usually aggravate any kind of existing issues as well as bringing out some of the symptoms you've mentioned. I remember having all sorts of problems when I had major art projects due, or just in general during those classes.

  
  Yeah. I feel like I had problems before but they became more pronounced as the college years progressed. It's weird how alien it seems. I go from being scared to being calm, and I wonder how it's even possible that I was that nervous.
• Bride wrote on 2012-03-10 01:09
  i developed this when i was 14. started taking meds for it around 18
  having a job helped a lot though, because a lot of my problem was with socializing. i still feel tense sometimes and particular things trigger my anxiety, but it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be. i also stopped taking meds for it a while back since i didn't want to rely on it, but because i might be getting a second job, i might need some after all 8(
• Elena wrote on 2012-03-10 01:12
  My mom says the medication didn't help her. I'll have to see what it ends up being for me. I don't have an official confirmation that this is what I have, but out of everything I know of, this is the one that fits the most.
• Ninjam wrote on 2012-03-10 01:31
  Theres some medicine you can take for it. If it's anything like mine, its not constant but more like "attacks". I've went to the hospital about twice because of it i think. The first time they gave me a sheet explaining it and a prescription they said i could take if i had another feeling like that.
  
  Its probably best to see a doctor about it if its happening. Once i knew what it was i learned to calm myself down. Usually when i start feeling like that i set an alarm for 5 minutes and relax, saying to myself "If i dont feel better by the time this alarm goes off, i will seek help".
  
  And i always feel better, or talk to my mom or siblings and they help me calm down.
  
  But yea, going to a doctor is probably a very good idea. It helped a lot for me.
  
  The physical symptoms can be very similar to a heart attack, which just made me freak out even more because i didn't know what the heck was happening. At one point the people in the ambulance told me that i was hyperventilating and that so far i looked fine so i should relax, but i couldn't because i was so freaked out.
  
  Good luck with yours,, it sounds worse than mine, which only happens probably weekly at best.
• Elena wrote on 2012-03-10 01:41

  Quote from Ninjam;802687:

  If it's anything like mine, its not constant but more like "attacks". I've went to the hospital about twice because of it i think.

  
  Yes, that's really what it feels like, I've had to try really hard to push them down because I would absolutely despise getting landed in the hospital. The first time, it was the most terrifying thing I could possibly imagine. I was absolutely sure I was going to pass out there on the sidewalk. I can't even understand how I managed to calm myself down then.
  
  

  The physical symptoms can be very similar to a heart attack, which just made me freak out even more because i didn't know what the heck was happening. At one point the people in the ambulance told me that i was hyperventilating and that so far i looked fine so i should relax, but i couldn't because i was so freaked out.

  
  At some point I remember thinking, "dear god, am I having a heart attack, like now? This is terrifying!" Stopping myself from hyperventilating is something I have to do way too often and it doesn't help that one of my biggest fear is death due to some sort of breathing irregularity or suffocation.
  
  I'm just going to wait for that visit to the doctor and see how it goes.
• Cynic wrote on 2012-03-10 02:00
  My Mom has had issues with anxiety and stress her entire life, though sadly I don't think any medication has ever helped her. It seems to have mellowed out a bit over the years, but I've seen her have a panic attack before and can only imagine how horrible it is. That and anxiety in general is just.. ugh.
  
  Hopefully the Doctor can give you something to help, or at-least suggest something like tea, music, or activities. I wish I could remember what sort of things helped my Mom, but I'd have to wait until she gets home to ask her.
• EndlessDreams wrote on 2012-03-10 02:08
  Xanax is a common drug for anxiety/panic attacks. Anxiety disorders are pretty common, at least people claim to have them, and then take Xanax.
  
  If you didn't know already, Xanax is prescription only.
• Cynic wrote on 2012-03-10 03:35
  Mmkay, adding to my prior post;
  
  Xanax is a benzodiazepine which is highly addictive, so I really wouldn't recommend taking it since withdrawals from it can be fatal if you do happen to get addicted to it. Any benzodiazepine in general is addictive, but is sadly what most Doctors will prescribe you. If you really must take some, make sure they don't give you more than .5mg of Xanax. Then you should be alright.
  
  If you also have depression though, antidepressants like celexa can help with anxiety. My Mom says it helps very well with both.
  
  Smoking and coffee make anxiety worse, so if you do either you should cut down or stop using them completely.
  
  Taking deep breathes also helps.
  
  And that's all my Mom can think of.
• Rin wrote on 2012-03-10 21:17
  To reiterate:
  
  I'm still here whenever you need to vent some steam and I'm still fine so don't worry about me.