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

[Lici]

Hey startingnew,

Sorry for the late reply! It's swotvac atm so have been swamped with assignments and exam prep!

I'm doing ok. My arm is still annoying me and the doctor is convinced it's the GAD muscle tension. If it hasn't gone away when I see him in January then I'm insisting something be done. Once January comes, I'll know if I'm in honours or not and I'll have zero uni stress. To me, that says that it's something else because I have absolutely nothing else in my life causing me to be anxious.

My holiday was good, bit of a haze now lol feels like forever ago! I'm hoping to go somewhere else after Christmas. Maybe kangaroo island if we can afford it.

I'm looking forward to having no uni stuff to think about. Can't believe that next week I'll have completed an arts degree!

How are you doing? I haven't had a chance to look at your thread yet. I'll pop in later tonight and have a read. I hope you're doing ok xxx

Lici

[startingnew]

Hey Lici

no need to apologise, you sound super busy but also like an exciting time too!

Hmm I know gad can cause muscle tension but youve had it for a long time now, I think asking for further investigation would be a good idea. Maybe you could try something like acupuncture that way you can say youve tried to relieve the tension.

[Lici]

Hey,

I might look into acupuncture or massage or something. It's getting ridiculous. I have had problems now for well over a year, the rest of the pain went away within 10 days of starting the medication. Surely if this was related as well it would have gone with the rest of it! It hurts to lay on and if I move it the wrong way. It's getting frustrating to say the least!

I'm officially done with my creative writing major now. Got my last psyc exam for the degree next week. I'm so proud of myself for making it this far. I really never thought it would happen.

How is your study going?

[startingnew]

HI Lici

how are you going? hows your shoulder going?

[Lici]

Hey startingnew,

I'm doing ok thanks 😊 a little lost and bored with no deadlines or exams to study for lol woke up with a headache today so I'll probably nap soon.

My shoulder still hasn't changed. If it really is anxiety related like the doctor thinks, then logically, the pain should go away after December. I find out my assignment grade for psychology tomorrow, find out overall results on the 30th of November and then find out if I get into honours on the 17th of December. So if everything goes well and I get into honours, then I'm assuming that the pain will go away because I'll have nothing to be anxious about until I go back to uni. But then the question arises, will the pain therefore be something that I have to deal with every time I'm anxious? Because if that's the case, then I'm going to have to look at how to deal with that long term 😕

I'll catch up on your thread a little later, gonna go try to get rid of this headache!

Hugs xxx

Lici

[startingnew]

Hey Lici

how did you go with your final grades? i do hope you get into honours.

If im honest, i would be asking for a second opinion on your shoulder. While anixety can cause these symptoms, you shouldnt have the pain as often or as bad as you do or when you feel calm the pain should subside.

[Lici]

Hey startingnew,

I find out my final grades on the 30th. My assignment mark was a bit of a let down though, but hopefully I'll get 77% on the exam to give me the distinction I need to get into honours without competing.

I thought that with my shoulder too, but the fact that I couldn't move my arm for a year until I started medication tells me that that idea isn't 100% true. I wasn't always anxious and worried etc before starting the medication and I suffered constant back pain since 2000 and then constant shoulder pain for 2 years or something like that. The fact that the pain went away (apart from my right shoulder) within ten days of starting the meds kind of tells me that my anxiety can be present even if I don't consciously feel anxious (if that makes sense?). If the doctor doesn't at least send me for a scan to see what's going on if the pain hasn't gone by January, then I'll be getting a second opinion for sure.

Hope you're doing well xx

Lici

[startingnew]

Hi Lici

hows things going?

Sending much love and hugs xoxo

[Lici]

Hey startingnew,

Things are going ok. I didn't get the mark that I needed to get straight into honours, so I kind of had a day of crying and panic a few days ago. It doesn't mean I haven't gotten into honours, just that I have to compete with everyone else applying now that are under a gpa of 5.75 including international students 😕. I'm hoping that my gpa of 5.63 is good enough, but I'm looking at my other options now. If I don't get into honours then I'll do a master's of social work and become a social worker, then apply for honours again and see if I can get in and become a psychologist later on.

Everyone usually tells me that having a backup plan is silly I hear "you're just being anxious, you'll be fine" etc., I've proven that my anxiety making me want backup plans for things like this is a good thing! Lol maybe now people will see that it's not just anxiety but being realistic!

How are you? I haven't been on here lately as I've been busy trying to keep myself occupied through reading and photography so I don't think about uni too much. I'll check up in your thread soon.

Love and hugs back xoxo

Lici

[startingnew]

Hey Lici

im sorry to hear you hadnt gotten into your masters but havin that backup plan sounds really good and isnt silly at all! if you hadnt even thought of it then you probably wouldnt know what to do with yourself now. its a very wise move!

I havent been here much either, things have been tough so i tend to hibernate. Spending time reading and doing photography sounds good though!