Reeling over GAD Diagnosis - What Now?

[jaxcat]

Struggling to process being diagnosed with GAD 2 days ago, and feeling anxious (no pun intended) about this news. I realize that the diagnosis is simply a pronouncement of something that's been affecting me for years - the anxiety disorder is not new - my awareness of it is new. But it means that I'm more of a mess than I thought. And I'm afraid that I won't be able to fix it.

[Hidden]

You are the same person you were the day before you had your diagnosis. All that's changed is you now have a label, but at least you can start treatment now. And GAD can be helped with a mixure of (hopefully) short term meds and counselling.

There is lots of help and hope out there so try and stay as positive as you can.

[jaxcat in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for responding. I know you are right, and it feels good (i.e., more believable) to hear it from someone else.

[Hidden in reply to jaxcat]

It does doesn't it? We always doubt ourselves and it's good to hear others points of view. x

[Hidden]

Hi it can be fixed ... wish I had the money to go to anxiety retreat type of place ... where they train you how to manage it to the extent of complete Anxiety free .... read about one today ... until I win the lottery i have to manage it through medication and books, along with relaxation techniques, etc etc ! Self help help ... like Iv always done ! Good luck 🍀 don't worry to much about today's diagnosis, it will pass ! Just a bout of exhausted nerves and overflow of adrenaline, you will get through to the other side. x

[jaxcat in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your thoughts!

Are there any books or relaxations techniques you recommend?

[Lag1 in reply to jaxcat]

I very recently got the official diagnosis of GAD as well (and a few others). I went through a DBT (dialectical based therapy) program and it was a life changer. There is also a book and workbook on Amazon. There are wonderful mindfulness exercises on utube...Leaves on a Stream is one of them. Mindfulness is a bit like meditation. There is also progressive muscle relaxation; start with your toes, tense them and then relax them. Then move to your calves etc. It is not easy! But it makes you focus on something other than being anxious.

[jaxcat in reply to Lag1]

Thank you very much - I will check those out!

[claire0410]

I don't yet have a "diagnosis" - just started to see a psychologist, but I'm pretty sure that this is where it's headed. The difference in my situation is that up until a little over a month ago, I really never had any serious issues with anxiety. I know how scary this situation is for me, putting a name on it probably would make me feel worse. I hope and pray that we all will be able to work through this and make our lives a little easier and happier. There are times that I am completely devastated at the way I feel. There are good days and I have decided that I really need to embrace them and hold on to that feeling to get me through the bad ones.

[jaxcat in reply to claire0410]

I remember feeling that way during my first major depressive episode. I was so frightened that it made me extremely vigilant about following the doctor's instructions because I wanted all that awful stuff to go away. Like you, I learned to appreciate the good moments and cling to them until the next one came along. And I survived. :- )

I did improve, but I've also had more episodes, and each one was less scary, but more discouraging. I worked so hard to get out of it and then got sucked back in! I felt as if I'd failed, until I finally accepted that this is a chronic condition for me, like high blood pressure or a bad knee - I just have to keep treating it and learn to live with it.

Sometimes I think of it as an annoying neighbor or co-worker - fighting it and being afraid of it only make it worse. I try to avoid triggering it, try to get along with it, and know that letting it upset me is counterproductive, so I just need to get through the bad times and appreciate the good ones.

I know you'll get through this and I hope that it never comes back for you, but if it does, you'll be ok. It can keep popping up, but you don't have to let it own you. It's not who you are, just something that happens sometimes.

[Stopmycrazy]

I agree exactly with lilac

[jaxcat]

Just to update....after 4 visits with the psychologist, she says that what I am describing to her sounds like PTSD, so she's prescribing clonidine, which I haven't started yet.

She also wants to explore the past trauma that caused it - yikes! I realize, of course, that's what I need to do, but know it will be wrenching.

I have 2 more appointments before my LOA ends and I go back to the office. I'm wondering how I'll manage to keep everything "under the radar" for 9 hours a day in front of others. I'll do it somehow, because I have to. :- ) I'm glad I took some time off - I really needed it, and it has helped. Your messages have helped too - THANK YOU!