Just got diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder after 10 years and I don't know what to do.

[Yen2]

So it turns out I have GAD and I don't know why. I tick all the symptoms. I worry about the future and everything I can but I can't stop it. I'm constantly tired and hungry everyday. I bite and pick my fingers and can't concentrate well. I tried using those anxiety-relief toys and meditation but nothing works for me. I'm not sure what to do even though I'm quite happy I finally know what's happening to me. I know I can do therapy or take medications. I'm keen on starting my therapy treatment next week but at the same time I'm quite at a lost on what I should do before then...Should I still function the same way I am now? I can't tell my family in detail as they wouldn't give me very good advice, my friends are ultra busy and also have things going on so my only support right now is my boyfriend. But I know I can't rely on him everytime as that can be exhausting to his mental health adding with all he has going on. Would love to hear similar stories and how you deal with GAD! Stay safe 🙂

[socialmoth]

Hi Yen2,

It is great to hear that you will be starting therapy treatment next week. It's such a fantastic first step and it's honestly the main thing you need to do if you want to get better and be able to control the anxiety. I get a bit antsy between sessions with my psychologist, but once you see them a couple of times you'll have things to work on in between sessions and you'll start seeing improvements. While it's really tricky, a week isn't too long to wait to start your progress 🙂

I wish you all the best!

[smallwolf]

hi and welcome.

so ... my dad has GAD. It took him years before reaching out for help.And that you are now going to starting geting help next week. Well, good on you. To admit a problem and do something about it. There are people I know who do not admit any issue or will even consider help.

The one thing I would say is .. what happens between now and next week will probably be the same as last week? I have depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. And I talk to a psychologist. Been doing that for a few years. I describe things as a work in progress. One day at a time. My journey is like climbing to the top of a mountain. Sometimes I have to go down into a valley to find a better path up to keep going. But it shows the time in the valley is temporary and things will get "better".

With the help you will get, you might be suggested to install apps, get homework, talk about issues etc. If you are interested in any of this... .well, let me know. Here, all I will say that I do not want to interfere with what the professionals will tell you. And, while you are on this journey, if you continue to write here I will also be here to listen and respond where I can.

Peace to you

[Here2Talk]

Hi Yen

I have had GAD since I was a young child. There is much to talk about, my whole life it has steered my life and the way I think - in general, and about the world. You have been suffering for ten years, how old are you now? I’m sorry to hear that. It’s a constant worry is the main feature of the disorder and the that is very debilitating

[Yen2]

Hi thank you for the encouragement and advice. It really helped me feel better about my GAD.

[Yen2]

Hi and thank you so much for sharing your story. It really gives me the motivation to let things flow as they are. The reason why I seeked help is because I pick and bite my fingers to an extreme (though not as self harm, just stress, anxiety and sometimes boredom). I always chalked it up as "regular" anxiety but after moving to Australia and having abit more freedom to do as I wish, I decided to take regular therapy sessions to figure out why I have been biting and picking my fingers for ~10 years. I am actually interested in apps like headspace but have never gotten around to downloading it. I realise my anxiety is quite difficult to control as there really isn't anything I enjoy. Exercising is hard as my anxiety thinks its a waste of time (studying is the only thing that makes me feel safe?). Hobbies are hard to do. I eat to survive, not enjoy. I regret something every single day (mostly thinking I never studied enough). I wonder if there are anything different from these that have helped you/your dad. Would love to know! Thank you!

[Yen2]

Hi there. Thank you for sharing your story. I can somehow relate to how GAD has impacted your life. I am 19 years old now and I believe the onset of GAD came around when I was 9-10 years old (when my finger picking and biting started). To be honest, I'm also not sure what triggered my GAD. I believe it could be due to genetics as my grandmother is a similar case to me. GAD is basically my whole life and what gives me direction. It tells me I need to study hard and ALOT and reach this idea of a stable job, income and family. I get hit hard whenever something goes wrong as I believe I am worthless. I am from Malaysia where the mental health care services are not so great and usually shunned (used to be what I believed as well). After moving to Australia, I decided to finally seek help as this year has been unusually tiring and depressing. I always thought worrying 24/7 was normal and it was easy for me to show people I was fine. Also have been chalked up as being dramatic by my own family so-. Sometimes I wonder what would a day be like without worrying about every single thing. Thank you for the kind words!

[smallwolf]

hi,

there are many things I "had" to do... for example

(1) gratitude journal

(2) reframing thoughts

(3) meditation app(s) ... see note 1 below

(4) finding stories that make sense to me ... see note 2

(5) homework

(6) reading other people's stories

NOTES

1. I use "virtual hope box" but it might not be to everyone's taste. This app was recommended to me by my psychologist. Other might like smiling mind or calm or headspace. Factors you take into consideration might include (1) ease of use, (2) meditation or relaxation exercises included, (3) accent of voice (4) other.

2. I would see getting better in a similar manner to a broken arm. That is, a time of healing and then everything would be fine. I would then find the goal line shifting. For myself then stories allowed me to deal with this moving goal and enable me to the accept "it" and recognise low points are temporary.

Hope that helps.

[Here2Talk]

I’m 30 now. Originally I was.... I think 18 when I first got professional help. About 16 or 17 when I saw guidance counsellor at school. 13 or so when I really started becoming super affected by it, but I can remember cascading and distressing worry like I said since being a child. I have worried about a range of things since then - the way I walk, the way I look, my financial situation, the future, my grades, my health, people I love, having accidents.... literally anything I can worry about I will worry about.... A lot of the things you described are the same for me- always thought 24/7 was what everyone did, I hate when something goes wrong, I always feel like I could have done better. I have a family of two kids and two uni degrees but now it’s basically my continuing grades at uni, and my finances. My mind literally thinks about what I should be doing from when I wake up to when I fall asleep. The only absence of what you have described is any physical symptom like finger picking/biting.

[Yen2]

Thank you so much for this. Hopefully all of this will work for me 🙂