GAD diagnosis

[Lici]

Hi, first time posting, hopefully someone can help.

So I went to a new doctor the other day (apparently he's registered with beyond blue) and he diagnosed me with GAD. The thing is I'm a bit dubious about this diagnosis as I don't excessively worry about things and have a previous diagnosis of PTSD which would fit most of my symptoms. His diagnosis consisted of asking me a few questions while I was there to see him for a shoulder issue.

I'm wondering if GAD can be diagnosed without the excessive worry and anxiety? The information that I can find on the DSM V diagnostic criteria states that the patient must have the excessive worry. The doctor has given me medication for treatment and I'm a bit nervous about starting a drug that's going to make me gain weight and be tied all the time while I'm at university (studying psychology funnily enough) and have spent a few years learning how to finally deal with things without medication. Should I ask to see a psychiatrist to get a definitive diagnosis before starting treatment? I'm really unsure what to do at the moment as I feel like the clinical psychologists and psychiatrists would have diagnosed me in the past if I had GAD.

Thanks for reading

[Chloe_M]

Hey Lici

Sorry I've been missing haha. That's ok about the not replying, I often do that too.

My assignments are getting busy again, end of Term 3 tests are appearing haha so I've got a lot on.

Your essay sounds really interesting haha! That would be great to read.

How are you going?

Hugs xo Chloe

[Lici]

Hey Chloe,

I'm doing ok thanks 😊 assignments and tests are full on at this time of year for sure! I'm currently working on one that's about how language is used as a form of oppression with the ultimate goal of controlling people's thoughts in 1984 and the handmaid's tale.

Once I've done that one I've got to start my psych report and then start the group assignment and then the Frankenstein one.

Before all that though I'm going away for five days to arkaroola again. I can't wait! We leave on Saturday. Hopefully my lecturer will answer my question about the essay I'm doing atm so I can get it finished before we leave.

Good luck with your tests!

Hugs

Lici

[startingnew]

hi Lici

no worries about the rant. i get it, i have people who know me from my past and not for who i am too. how are your assignments going? i hope you enjoy your time away too.

[Lici]

Hey startingnew,

I'm procrastinating bad on my essay at the moment. I've just run out of motivation lol I'll get a jolt of inspiration and get it finished though so I'm not too worried.

With my rant, it's not so much that they don't know who I am now that makes me feel bad, it's that I don't have any memory of them whatsoever. For example, the girl who says we were best friends was talking about when I ran away as a teenager and how she was the one who told my parents because my mum scared her. I remember running away, I remember where the girls I ran away with and I stayed the night, I remember what happened when I got home, I even remember some of the other kids names. I cannot for the life of me remember the girl I was talking to whatsoever. She is a complete blank and it makes me feel bad.

There's another guy who apparently was the boyfriend of a girl I lived with for a few years and he apparently lived with us as well. I remember the girl I lived with, I remember the girls daughter. He is a complete blank though.

It's super frustrating because I believe what they tell me, they know too much about situations from my past not to, but to me they're complete strangers. It's like I have huge gaps in my memory.

I can't wait for my trip. We leave on Saturday and it can't come soon enough! Uni has me feeling so tired and run down lately so the break will be worth it!

Hugs

Lici

[Lici]

So my cousin died of cancer last night. I feel weird because my mum and sister are all sad and crying etc and I feel nothing about it. We weren't close or anything and I would only see him once a year if that. I feel like there's an expectation for me to grieve but I'm more of the mind that at least it was quick and he didn't have to suffer for years.

[startingnew]

HI Lici

im so sorry to hear about your cousin. everyone grieves in their own ways so try not to compare yourself to how others are coping/ what they do to cope. Hugs

[Lici]

Hey startingnew,

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, uni break is over so I've been super busy.

It's not so much that I compare myself to how they cope and grieve. It's that they grieve at all. I feel nothing. I don't need to cope because it hasn't affected me at all. It's been the same with every family member that has died. It's like that part of me is missing entirely. It's weird and makes me wonder why they are sad but I feel nothing.

[startingnew]

Hi Lici

no need to apologise, ive been abit mia myself just popping in every now and then. everyone is different so some thing affects others mor/less/ not at all. its ok, unless it is something that is bothering you then maybe its worth exploring more into why that is?

[startingnew]

Hi Lici

just popping in to see how your going? and how your time away went?\

xox

[startingnew]

Hi lici

Just popping in to see how your going? and how your holiday went?

xox