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]

Hi Chloe and startingnew,

Thanks for the luck! I think I'll be fine though. I did someone's quizlet quizzes today without looking at any flashcards and the lowest score I got was 89% so I'm pretty sure I'll do fine on exams.

I'm doing ok with everything else. If I'm too stressed I just have a nap 😂

Sorry to hear you're not doing well Chloe! I'll check out your thread too. feel free to chat in here as well. I don't check the forums as often lately cause of study, but I'll always reply! Hugs

Lici

[startingnew]

Thats great Lici

Welldone on those practice quizes

Im sure youll do well in your exams.

Having a nap is a good way to stop the overload lol.

[Lici]

Unfortunately having a nap is also a great form of procrastination lol

The only thing stressing me out at the moment is the fact that the set readings for one of the topics are examinable. That's 21 readings and I've only read around three of them 😢 looks like I'll be spending the next week doing readings for one topic and hoping that the quizlet quizzes are enough for the other one. At least there's a week between the first two exams and the third.

I hate that there's so much emphasis on exams. Each one is worn 50% of the overall grade or more. Yet we do more work on assignments. To me it's just unfair to have more work be worth less of the mark and more marks just for memory. It's so much stress for me because I've got memory problems associated with my PTSD and anxiety.

[startingnew]

Hi Lici

That is so much to have to deal with! Wow. Just do thr best you can. Overloading your brain wont be much help.

Ithink with exams you dont have the option to do more research. Its more like thinking on the spot as moat people in health areas need to do. But it really does suck.

Hugs xoxo

[Lici]

Hi startingnew,

Thanks, I'm trying not to overload my brain too much and it's my own fault for not doing the readings during semester, but it's hard to keep up with like 2 readings per week for each topic plus the novels we have to read for my creative writing major, plus watch 5 lectures per week and go to one lecture and then tutorials on top of that! Not to mention the 8 assignments I had! It's honestly a struggle sometimes to keep going and sometimes I contemplate dropping out, but I'm stubborn and don't want to quit so I keep going. I've decided to type out notes for the readings and then print them to save on time.

I'm sure I'll be fine, I always get into the exam and am like "oh this is easier than I thought it would be" and get it done really quick etc and I haven't gotten an overall grade below a credit yet. It's just the lead up to exams where I end up over thinking and worrying that I'm not going to remember everything or I won't study something important and will lose marks etc. I go through cycles of "I'll be fine" and "I'm gonna fail" for two weeks before exams lol such is anxiety I guess.

[startingnew]

Wow Lici

That is heaps! Are you undergoing 2 degrees? Would deferring from one for a few months be helpful so you can just concentrate on one at a time?

Urgh gotta love the i can/cant do this cycle hey! I wish you luck with your exams. One after the other youll be able to tick them off and itll hopefully become abit less stressful for you

[Lici]

Hi startingnew,

Unfortunately, I'm doing a bachelor of arts with two majors (psychology and creative writing) so I'm unable to defer one part. Luckily I'm almost half way through my last year so it will be over soon lol. If I had known that doing two majors was this much work I might have decided against doing it, but I have always loved writing and I really want to become a psychologist, so I may have done it anyway 😂

The I can/ can't cycle is the bane of my existence right now lol. At least my medication makes me tired at night so I'm not up all night worrying like I usually would be at this time of year.

This is the last stressful semester luckily, next semester I only have one Psychology topic and two English ones. So I'll have 6 assignments and only one exam. Is it sad that I find that lucky? 😂

I hope you're having a good day! It's so cold here! Winter has really set in and it's all cold and gloomy. We had to go buy another heater cause the other one died lol my boyfriend brought me a patio heater as well so I'm not freezing when I go outside for a smoke (I know, horrible habit).

Hugs,

Lici

[startingnew]

Well your definitely determined! Good on you. Itll be over soon and you can breathe easy for a bit.

Im glad your sleeping at night though. Thats a good thing.

Its cold here too. We just had a week of rain. Thankfully today and tomorrow are clear so i can catch up on some outdoor things

Hope today was a good day for you! And not too stressful.

[Lici]

Hi startingnew,

The next 4 days are just constant study for me. I haven't stopped for the past 2 days apart from having a few breaks and sleeping. First exam is on Monday and second is Tuesday so pretty exhausting. I'm not stressing as much as I normally would which I guess is a sign that the medication is having an effect.

We've got a week of rain here. I guess it stops me procrastinating by sitting outside too much though 😂

[startingnew]

Hi Lici

good luck for your exams in the coming week. Its good your not stressing as much though even if its cause of the meds wait till exam day then im sure that stress will double lol.

Lol yes rain has a funny way of saying stop procrastinating!.