Generalised anxiety disorder

Introduction

Anxiety

Feeling anxious is sometimes perfectly normal. However, people with anxiety disorders find it hard to control their worries. A psychiatrist discusses the symptoms of anxiety, why it becomes a problem for some people, and the psychological and drug treatments for it.

Do I have generalised anxiety disorder?

You may have GAD if:

Your worrying significantly affects your daily life, including your job and social life.
Your worries are extremely stressful and upsetting.
You worry about all sorts of things and have a tendency to think the worst.
Your worrying is uncontrollable.
You have felt worried nearly every day for at least six months.

Community content from HealthUnlocked

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.

Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam or having a medical test or job interview.

Feeling anxious is sometimes perfectly normal. However, people with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and often affect their daily life.

Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions, including:

The information in this section is about generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD is a long-term condition which causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event.

People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. GAD can cause both psychological (mental) and physical symptoms. These vary from person to person, but can include feeling irritable or worried and having trouble concentrating or sleeping.

Read about the symptoms of anxiety.

How common is anxiety?

GAD affects about 1 in 20 adults in Britain. Slightly more women are affected than men, and the condition is most common in people in their 20s.

How is anxiety treated?

GAD can significantly affect your daily life, making it difficult to carry out everyday tasks. However, several different treatments are available to ease your psychological and physical symptoms. These include psychological therapy and medication.

There are also many things you can do to ease the symptoms of anxiety yourself.

Find out more about the treatments for anxiety and self-help tips for anxiety.

Last reviewed: 19/04/2012

Next review due: 19/04/2014

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Comments

47 Comments about ‘Anxiety’

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

emma719 said on 11 December 2012

don't know if I have anxiety or not but its driving me mad! its stressing me out all time, today I had a task at college to match some cards up and I spent more time making sure they were neat and wen someone moved them it seriously stressed me out, my heart was racing my hands became sweaty, I start shacking and ive had head acke all night, I haven't been sleeping at all probably about 4 or 5 hours on a night, after I'd finished the tasks with the cards I couldn't do any work at all I didn't want to stress anymore I just felt like going to bed in all honestly my hands sweat a lot when I'm pancaking about not getting work in on time or if I struggle and everything distracts me, my relationship with my parents isn't good theres stuff going on at home a just feel like im on my own all time, I useually just sleep because it stops me worrying for a while but if I sleep through day I cant sleep at night but if I don't sleep threw day I still cant sleep at night, a just feel the need to explode! someone help please!!

bigblueeyes said on 11 October 2012

Self help books can go some way to helping. What you really need to do is convince yourself of your ability to cope with *anything* that will happen to you.

I have struggled with anxiety since my early twenties, usually it is triggered by some event or fear of some future uncertainty.

This last year, it has got so bad I've resorted to seeing a private psychologist. I cannot stress how much this has helped me, I am a different person, not totally free of anxiety and still struggling with some big issues, but nevertheless hugely better. I've had to pay for this myself and it has been expensive, but it is so much better than anything I had on the NHS. It is really working and to me is worth every penny. Find someone who specialises in anixety.

I've found using my imagination to predict a good outcome really beneficial. Although it takes *daily* practice. You can't just absorb stuff by going to the therapist, you have to work hard at changing your thinking. It is helpful to have someone to see regularly to put me back on track.

loopdeloop said on 25 September 2012

Ok I posted a comment on here last night but for some reason its not here, so here goes again. @badhumus, I have been there, its not nice whilst it is happening but believe me it will go if you let yourself let go, if that makes sense. I'm a 47 year old man, I had suffered from Anxiety since the age of 5 years of age, when I was 8 my doctor tried to put me on tranquilzers but my Mother had the hindsight to say no. My anxiety got worse throughout school I was having attacks everyday severe and crippling so much so after I left school I became Agoraphobic I also developed social and free floating anxiety, basically I was crippled by it, I then decided to change, I had to change no one would do it for me, I sent off for numerous books on psychology and panic disorders, they seemed to go some way in helping me move forward, it settled down and I was able to go out and meet people, believe me it was hard I was nervous and panicky all the time, eventually because I persisted and just let it happen no one had a clue, I acted as if I was fine and good fun, it worked.The anixety subsided as my confidence grew, I met someone and was very happy for a long time, then we split, I also lost two very close family members it all became to much and I ended up back at square one, this time with depression......awful, awful period of my life, the lowest I have ever felt, but I never gave up, I picked my self up and started again it was hard, but deep inside I never gave up I pushed forward with all these horrid feelings, eventually I asked my doctor to refer me for CBT, this is where the panic stopped! I have never ever looked back. I now travel the world I have a high paid responsible job and everything is dandy, I am under no illusion that this may creep up behind me again but, this time I have the tools, me. Just let it go, let it happen it will go. A great book to read is 'Feel the fear and do it anyway' marvellous will help those of you stuck inside yourself to

rupifragum said on 22 September 2012

I have anxiety since 1992. Along the years; sometimes I was under medication. But the truth is that nothing works. I read books; I have received counseling; I went to therapy,...
But nobody found what's wrong with me. I say all this because for me what more hurt me is that it seems that nobody really cares what can happen to me. I think that NHS should do more for everybody that suffers mental illness. Never is enough my friends. Mental illness is something that I will never wish that nobody suffer. For me is the longest illness that a human being can suffer. Sometimes I cannot go outside my house due to I'm afraid of my reaction in public place. It's like if you are prisoner of your body.Every night, before to go to bed is a nightmare. When I lay down , I start feeling that I can not breathe. It seems that somebody strangle me. I can not swallow my own spit. And I start thinking that I'm going to die.This will be till the end of my life.

jadeg109 said on 01 September 2012

i am 16 and have suffered from anxiety since the early age of 14 years old. i found it very hard to cope and having boyfriends were a nightmare, any boyfriend i had, had a night time curfew, wasnt allowed alcohol and had to text or be with me 24/7. i had a amazing relationship with someone who was bipolar, later that year i was then diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I was referred to a Physiatrist, i also have major OCD and have panic attacks if things are not the way i want them to be, as am very young im still learning to cope with my disorders that i i have got, my advice to anyone is not to suffer in silence and book a doctors appointment as soon as possible.

rachelj1621 said on 22 August 2012

To anyone who is suffering Anxiety/panic attacks etc. Please take time out to read 'Self Help for your Nerves' by Dr Claire Weekes. I suffered anxiety and panic attacks really badly after my first child 12 years ago and when I found our what was wrong with me I read this book (several times) and also went for some CBT (referral from my doc). It had a massive impact and although I still have the odd panic attack when I have been stressed. I know how to deal with it much more effectively. Please give it a go. But you have to be prepared to take it slowly even though we all would love an over night cure.
Hope this book can help someone else like it did me.

Sophie001 said on 01 August 2012

I am in my teens and have been diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder. I've always been overly anxious but after having a bad case of glandular fever a year ago which left me with post viral irritable bowl syndrome it got much worse. I used to just go through short periods of time with severe anxiety but then it died down after a while but it kept coming back worse than the time before. I always think that the worst things will happen to me or someone else in life, find it hard to sleep at times and can't watch horror movies as they put bad thoughts in my head. My mum and I decided it was time for me to get help so we went to my GP who got me in touch with a specialised nurse who is now giving me advice and techniques on how to cope - she is also there if I need someone to talk to.
I highly recommend people who find it hard to cope with their disorder to do the same, it really does help. Even though I still have odd blips it is nothing in comparison to what it used to be and I am being able to enjoy my life again without worrying so much about "what if". And I am only in the early stages of my treatment.
Having irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) is made worse by my anxiety, but now being able to cope makes my episodes much less often as the two go hand in hand. I missed over 40% of my school year last year but am now determined to miss as little school this year and so far have not missed a day of school into my new school year so I am really proud of myself as I've come so far from where I was a year ago.
I am soon to be starting yoga and water aerobics which is meant to help many different health problems so am looking forward to seeing if they help me to continue to improve.

Nikki_uk said on 19 July 2012

Fortunately my anxiety isnt as severe as some of your previous posts, mine is more situation related. If i do something at work and then think i havent done it properly i stay up all nite panicking, it causes me to have D&S and shortness of breath and i work myself up so much, and even though i try to calm myself down it doesnt work and ill worry for days and days until i know the event has passed and noone will remember. I get it in social situations too if I think ive said something i shouldnt even though i know i shouldnt worry and then again for days afterwards im upset. I think I just over analyse situations and I get myself in a mess. Im fed up of feeling this way all the time, it makes me scared to put myself in situations where i can mess up or be myself. I never used to be like this, i used to be confident and happy, now i just overreact to situations all the time. Goodluck everyone out there x

sgb78 said on 01 July 2012

I have been suffering with anxiety/panic disorders for the last 12 months.

It all started during a very difficult period for me with work targets being very difficult to achieve,my mother being terminally ill and relationship troubles,not to mention the daily stresses of life.

I honestly thought I was dying,my heart rate was through the roof then missing beats,my eyes went foggy,my legs went to jelly,cold sweats,chest pains all in the space of about an hour,a trip to a+e and several ecg's later proved to be nothing serious going on.

At first my symptons were heart palpitations (very bad) and a rash that just wouldnt go away,after a few weeks they both became a very rare occurance but in their place I would suffer from dizziness,detatchment,blurry vision,lack of focus,tremors and pretty much every sympton mentioned previously by others...

I am now on sertraline 100mg a day and I have to say that it appears to be working (fingers crossed) and I am feeling like I may have turned a corner with this.

My advice to people in the same boat as me is to accept any help you get offered (I hate pills as much as anyone) and more importantly talk to people,it appeared to me that nearly everyone has had some form of anxiety/panic disorder at some stage in their life.

Thanks for reading,I hope other people can relate to this.

danleah23 said on 25 June 2012

hi im 27 years old and i have been suffereing with anxiety all my life but i was only diagnosed 2 years ago. As a child i had panic attacks with shortness of breath and feeling sick every night. I did not know it was anxiety as i did not know what it was my Mum thought that i was just a worrier. I remember having awful feelings that i was going to lose my Mum and i used to panic at home time if she wasn't the first parent there,it was awful.
Now i have 2 children and after having my second child my anxiety has gone worse it now feels like i have a blockage somewhere in my head and that feels like blood isn't circulating around properly. I recently started with migranes and it was awful the first time as i did not have a clue what was happening to me, my vision was blurred and i thought i was going to die so i had a huge panic attack, this happened on the school run early one morning so ever since then i fear that it will happen again while im out and even though i have been told that i wont pass out off my GP it still is a worry. I went on medication for it from my GP but stopped as i felt ok for a week or so but now it has started again so i am going to start my medication again. I always feel unhealthy and tired, it is absolutely awful I just get bad thoughts all the time .

sammey said on 23 June 2012

Hi since my husband suddenly died in 2007 I have been suffering with depression anxiety panic disorder and agoraphobia. I am 58 now and have had all the therapy's that my GP could offer but it didn't help which is why I now have agoraphobia. My stress affects my every day life to the point that I have diarheara every time the door bells rings or a letter comes through the door. My hair has fallen out (grown back now) and have had hives all around my kneck. I still take antidepressants nearly five years on. The only place I go out to is if I have to see my GP but where possible I have a telephone consultation. I cant go out alone because of the panic disorder. I dont sleep very well everytime I lay down I get the feeling of not being able to breath.

LichfeldianSuttonian said on 16 June 2012

I am now 46 years old and I have just come to my conclusion that I suffer from anxiety but I don't know to what degree and intensity.
I have been biting my nails since before I was 5 years old. I think I know why now.
I have felt that I have always been at the mercy of other peoples decisions, e.g., bosses, landlords, courts, govermnents; in other words, "big people" and "big names" who tell me which square to stand etc. I know this sounds mad but when my boss would say (in a manner of speaking), "I want an hour's work done in 45 minutes", I get really shakey and I often have to go to the toilet as I feel nausious and I vomit and I start crying. I start to feel inadequate with my work and I start having doubts as to my capabilities. I have been carrying a barrier around with me as a defence mechanism against these decisions that which I feel I cannot control and for me, I feel it's been a fight to gain recogition of normality.
Historically, I had Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) and I had specialist education to help me with that. My father abandoned me (and my sister and mother) when I was 11 and although I have a stepdad now, and I call him "Dad" (because he behaves like one), the rejection is still there in the background.
Recently, I have had my life turned upside down by the extra-marital behaviours of my now ex-wife and it has been an emotional struggle to get things back to normal.
I am determined now to sort this out as I have two kids, a son who now lives with me, and a daughter who also wants to do the same.
I want my life back!!!!!! :(

kew4612 said on 10 June 2012

I am now 55 yrs old and have now just owned up to myself mainly, that I have had anxiety and social phobia all of my life. I was fine for the first 5 years of life until I started school, looking back now there was a pattern that most Mondays after starting school I would be collected after being physically sick and having a intense migraine type headache at that age I was unware why, our Doctor then put it down to lack of blood sugar and I was fed glucose sweets and powder in hot black currant ,horrible. This went on all through my school years never making any lasting friends and being on the outside of any groups , worrying myself sick literary if I was invited anywhere and usually getting one of 'my headaches' on the day. When worked started I would not go near the canteen to be with others on breaks, had great difficulty communicating with colleagues being regarded as moody and sullen until I went self employed and could work on my own for 25 yrs this worked although towards the end I started to worry over my ability to complete jobs and find work. This has led I am sure to 2 heart attacks I have had and now a triple bypass.

I now find myself having to look for employed work and having to deal with bosses and colleagues again, all the old symptoms have appeared again no matter how much i try to control them they take over ,with bladder control now even worse. this time I am going to get help as my life has been lived in a box, , making friends or joining in avoiding all social situations even recently dropping out of a evening class when my confidence just crashed and I shook through each lesson. I have had enough now and seeing that help is out there plan to visit my GP, denial is at an end.

Blondie94 said on 05 June 2012

From the age of 10 till the age of 13, I suffered from a panic disorder and had at least 2 panic attacks everyday for 2 years. As I was young I didn't know why this happening, or what I could do to stop this. Eventually after 3 years I started to have less panic attacks and now I only have a few every month. However from then on I have found myself becoming more anxious and it stopped me doing allot of things throughout most of my teenage life, as I always had this fear of dread. Along with that I started getting tremors, nausea, light headedness; I had a lack of concentration, lack of sleep, and panic attacks. It’s taken me 5 years to go and see a doctor, and I found I had general anxiety disorder. GAD has affected my life in many ways, the most upsetting for me was my exam results, and the embarrassment of having to try and hide a panic attack in exams. It’s also affected my health as I get allot more colds, allot more eye infections and muscle aches which my doctor has told me is linked to my anxiety. It was hard to know that it wasn't something like an infection and that I could get rid of with an antibiotic. It was me and it wouldn't magically disappear. Also the fact that it is classed as a mental disorder was quite up setting.
I’m sorry if this seems all doom and gloom, but I want people to know that it isn't just them suffering from this, especially young people like I was when it started.
I’m now 18 and I know it is something that isn't my fault and that there is help and people who will listen.

badhumus said on 28 May 2012

Hi I'm a 21 year old male and anxiety has been the bane of my last year.

I became hugely more confident and self-satisfied in my second year of uni finding my mild social anxiety problems of old to be vanquished.

However an awful anxiety-filled experience abroad left my social confidence in tatters and despite therapy I suffer from mild socially induced panic attacks as well as general social anxiety.

The overruling symptom seems to be that conscious eye-contact is extremely uncomfortable and distracts from any conversation I may be having.
This makes me feel constantly on edge in social situations and I have not in 4 or so months now felt it get better.

I would love to know if anyone can relate to this particular issue or has any further advice for long term anxiety-annihilation.

jecelle said on 25 May 2012

Anxiety is a debilitating mood disorder that is triggered by an often unidentifiable stimulus which then results in feelings of uneasiness, apprehension and fear. Panic attacks, poor sleep patterns and constant worrying are the normal accompanying symptoms. Other issues that commonly develop are a reliance on drugs or alcohol to cope, which can make relationships and family matters escalate from challenging to impossible.

"According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 1 in 5 Australian Adults will suffer from Stress Related Illnesses including Anxiety and Depression (ABS 2008). That’s over 4 million people and more than the common cold."

Tomorrow will not be any different if you don’t take action Today! If Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia, OCD, Post Natal or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are a part of your life, why not do something to change that?

Sassy50 said on 24 May 2012

Hi...thought I would offer a little bit of advice that may help...I found Anxiety UK to be very helpful as I suffer from severe boutsof anxiety and panic...their website is www.anxietyuk.org.uk hope it helps !

Lor_x said on 23 May 2012

Hi, I have noticed my social anxiety even more so since around my teenage years, i'm nearly 20 now, and i've been trying my best to keep things under control.
Yesterday I had my first Anxiety attack, and literally thought I was having a heart attack and felt like I was on the brink of dying.
Has anybody else experienced this?
Could you offer me any advice or just a general insight into how it was for you? I'm so worried about having another one. (which doesn't help!)
Thanks.x

Mx20 said on 16 May 2012

Seeing as people made the effort to comment, I thought I'd add my little bit in. I've had low-level anxiety forever I think. It took until age 27 for me to get seriously stressed enough to see a doctor, who basically just said it would clear. Well I guess the bad bit will, the 27 previous years of it suggest the underlying bit is unlikely to though.

I have no suggestions I'm afraid, just keeping hopeful. All the best to y'all.

Jamie88 said on 14 May 2012

I have suffered with anxiety since a year past christmas now. Not only do i suffer from all the 'normal' affects but i feel really sick. I have been to the hospital 3 times now for tests but they all come back clear. Im waiting to see my consultant again which there is a 3 month waiting list! Im currently off work due to this and with the added fear of loosing my job does not help one bit. I phoned the hospital today to see if i could get an appointment earlier and they said no. Surely they should start doing a cancellation list as it makes me feel like no one wants to know. It has got to the point where i dont even leave the house and the only friends i have left is my tv and computer. Sounds sad really but thats how bad it gets. I will keep everyone updated when i see the consultant next.

User176705 said on 14 May 2012

I think I have had anxiety since I was at primary school. I am now 45 & when I had my second child 12 years ago I had post natal depression which I did get over but it left me with mild anxiety, I tried anti depressants but they just made me feel worse and suicidal , I went to a counsellor too which did help at first but I seemed to just come through it in the end. When my daughter was about 7 she had a awful time at school to the extend she did not want to go, my anxiety became worse, it has made me have awful anxiety mainly about my daughter, I just cannot stop worring about her its usually about is she happy at school, does she have any friends, if she isnt going out with friends or bbm on her phone to her friends all the time, my mind starts worrying and disecting the facts which most of them I dont even know if they are true, the worst thing it affects my stomach I get the feeling when you feel really nervous about something. She actually seems very happy in herself but that doesnt seem to stop me worrying. I try and talk to me husband about it but he just doesnt know what to say. I just wish I could stop worrying about her so much , I get so fed up with it, will it ever get any better. Hope that all makes sense, sometimes it doesnt make sense to me.

Carla0777 said on 09 May 2012

I am a 34 year old with 3 children..I have suffered with anxiety since the age of 11 when i moved house, school etc and my auntie died suddenly which all seemed to trigger it. After having the children i have definitely gotten worse with waves of panic/ anxiety most days.. I take a low dose of antidepressant which did work for me for a while. Symptoms like others mainly include detachment from reality, aching esp. neck and shoulders, thick foggy head, inability to focus properly on things...etc. I also have the irrational thoughts of dying..mainly when its bed time, sometimes i just think that i'll die in my sleep which i know is completely rare and irrational! My husband doesn't worry about anything, he is soo laid back, i wish if i could have a life free from worry so i could enjoy every day instead of worrying!

leanne b 2010 said on 03 May 2012

Its really reassuring to read comments from other people who are in the same situation as myself. im a 26 year old female and for years have suffered from anxiety but never could put a name to my problem... it wasnt until the doctor suggested i had anxiety after the birth of my daughter that i read up on it and everything fell into place.
iwhen i was a teenager i used to dread going to school as i hated being away from my family and hated the feeling that i HAD TO stay there for the whole day. as a got older i was always able to control it and only had attacks every 5 month or so, although i worried constantly. then, after th ebirth of my daughter 2 years ago my anxiety became sooo bad. i put it down to baby blues but it lasted for 16 month. i couldnt bear to b alone with my daughter as i thot id die and shed b left alone. the worst thing for me was the feeling of detatchment from everything around me. i couldnt explain it at the time but nothing felt real. i felt as though everything was 'fake' . when i was talking to people i felt as though it wasnt me. i remember wanting to run away from everything as far as i could n just keep running. i tried telling my parrtner and others how i felt but everyone kept telling me to get over it and get on with life. after reading up on anxiety i started to understand it more and deal with it alot better. i just try and think to myself i am happy and amnt going to die anytime soom and its all in my head.... that always makes me feel better.
at the time i thought there was no way out of my black hole and id never be the same agian. but u do get better. just understanding anxiety makes life better.

cheshirekate1 said on 01 May 2012

Hi Stevemole....I too suffer very similar if not the same symptoms as you. Iv always turned down anti-depressants etc as I feel they're a 'cover up' not a cure....besides, im only depressed because of my anxiety. If you do nothing else today visit anxietynomore.co.uk and read what ex sufferer Paul David has to say. I brought the book he published...and WOW!!! Its will make you feel instantly better just reading it. Its not a quick fix...but stick with it. I promise you it works. Anxiety is fueled by fear. Fear of an attack coming again, the more you understand why you body is doing what it is doing and why its making you feel the way you feel you'll have less fear of it...less fear = less anxiety. Good luck all. We can beat this!

Stevemole said on 24 April 2012

Please can somone help??I have had what i deep down know to be panic/anxiety attacks for over 20 years!I cant cope anymore and as i write this i am crying.They follow all the usual symptoms and most often happen at night,usually waking me from sleep,heart pounding,gasping to breath and convinced i am going to die.Had one this morning at 5.30a and still feeling weird!!Exhausted and emotional.
Have had test on my heart and all ok but now i convince myself its something else!
I am a singer and actor and now i cant even go on stage through the fear i feel!
Tried Diazepam and had some taping techniques taught many years ago but now i just dont know what to do..Scard to visit my GP in case he tells me it is someting serious and so scared to sleep each night cos i just know it will happen again.I carry a paper bag with me all the time.
I cant get my head around the fact that anxiety can give me such real and horrible symptons!
Its starting to impact my work and my social life.
Cant begin to list all my symptoms as i will be here for ever...palpitations,tight chest,gasping for breath,shaking and trembling,fatigue,neck and scalp aches,aches in my ribs and chest and lowe back,dry mouth..the list is endless..I dont want this to carry on anymore..I know there is no quick fix but please someone..Any ideas??

Cheers Stevex

Andy 30 said on 18 April 2012

hi everyone,

I have found reading your posts really helpful. I am a 30 year old male recently diagnosed with anxiety and depression. The anxiety and panic attack is new to me and totally frightening. It feels like you are in a black hole and there is no way out. Sometimes it gets that bad I have felt about doing something drastic to stop feeling this way. I have a good job and a supportive family but often feel so alone and that I am never going to get better. My GP wasnt helpful. I am seeing a counsellor which does make me feel better - it does help talking. I have started taking medication which I hope will help. I have never felt so alone but reading your comments does help and made me realise that there are other people having similar problems.

Vxj154 said on 13 April 2012

I've had what I very much later found out was an anxiety disorder since I was a kid. I've gone through phases of it being better and worse but luckily right now it's bearable. I wanted to include this for anyone reading who feels like that cloud is never going to go away. It's hard to need help when no-one around you has a clue how or even why. However the only comforts you can take are those who at least try to understand, and eventually you will probably meet other people who have suffered the same thing, even if it takes a long time for it to come out. I am now at university doing ok. I still usually feel strange, like if I'm calm I havethis strange feeling of deadness, yet the alternative is anxiety and depression. It's a weird place to be, but it's ok now, as I have gained a better idea of happiness now. Also certain things help, at uni I sit at the back or near a door, just in case. I can't get too drunk because that sometimes brings it on. I don't feel that I'm selling it very well but I really am in a better place than I have been. And sometimes I find out that someone cares and I was completely oblivious, thinking it impossible. But when some people turn their backs, sometimes someone else will be there instead. All everything takes is time. Just take things slowly. If you're stressed at school you can get a pass card to leave classes and do your work elsewhere. At uni, pick a tactical seat and you can apply for a separate exam room. In social situations don't feel obliged to stay if you need to go home. Maybe even just find a safe person you feel comfortable with and go out with them. I assumed for years that I had to push myself to get over my problems. but I found that taking it slow was the best way. Now I socialise frequently without getting actual anxiety attacks, and I love uni and living with friends and my boyfriend. I have also never used medication, possibly because of my age but I found my dotor unsympathetic anyway, she was horrible.

rebecca89 said on 01 April 2012

It is nice to finally see stories of people who are feeling similar to myself, sometimes I feel like no one around me understands what I am feeling. Little things like not being able to go to the shop, any social situations, I avoid. I started university in September and at first I was fine, but then I started having panic attacks and got put on amytriptaline, which made me feel worse because I was tired and drowsy all the time, and loads more paranoid. Initially when I came off of them I felt like things were starting to look up, but now I am more reserved and anxious than ever. I hate seeing all my friends at uni going out for nights out and not being able to go along, I don't even go to uni I work from home, well, halls, when I am there I do not leave my room. I find it hard if anyone comes into our house that I don't know and I find myself constantly making excuses. I feel as though I am becoming agoraphobic as I am too scared to leave the house. I am also a hypercondriac and always convinced I am dying, or have some terrible illness. I feel nausious all the time on top of that it must be down to stress. I also feel like when I eat, I will choke. It is all a nightmare.

Calmer said on 01 April 2012

Hi I`ve been suffering from depression and anxiety most my life i have been taking anti depression medication for most of this time. some work some don`t its all trial and error. i`ve tried herbal substitutes and they have helped. At the moment i`m taking sertaline and diazapan because thats what i need at this time to deal with the way i am. You are never alone in what you feel always remember that and things will get better trust me on that. No matter how you now feel. Push yourself go for walks, go jogging talk to people do whatever you need to do but keep fighting whether or not you feel like it. Talking to people who know what your going through is 1 of the greatest healings in itself. Use each other my email is always there we can support each other.

Adam

Arthur Moe said on 21 March 2012

I was made redundant about four years ago. The company I worked for went bankrupt. Shortly afterwards I started to get these funny, what I call spasms, during the day and night. A sudden shock, tingling feeling around the torso area and sometimes down my arm. I had a couple of medical check-ups, but nothing untoward was found. But, the spasms continued. I managed to find another, part-time job six months after being made redundant. Now, four years later I only get the spasms during the night. Sometimes once or twice during the night. But, I sometimes have spasm free nights. My mind sometimes gets confused as to what's happening. I am anxious about my future, as I am facing retirement.

kylrod86 said on 13 March 2012

There was a time last week where I went to meet my pal for dinner, I was feeling anxiety dread that day but I though no just fit it. I was sitting there eating lunch and I started feeling myself chock on what I was eating, the whole place stated spinning and I had to run to the toilet where I was there for about 20 minutes trying to calm myself. Now I keep making myself swallow all the time just to make sure I can. I know these feelings are not going to hurt me but I can’t make myself think that at the time. I have tried everything but go to my doctor i.e. breathing, trying to fight it, keeping myself busy and thinking positive thoughts but they just don’t work. I don’t seem to have any problems sleeping at the moment, touch wood, but I am always waking up feeling dread.
I really hope I’m not alone because these feelings are so scary and I just don’t know how to cope with them anymore. My partner is a real help as he understands what I am going through but in another way until you have these feelings can you really understand?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this mini book and I hope all everyone else who suffering with anxiety reads this and knows they are not alone.
Kyle ?

kylrod86 said on 13 March 2012

Hi everyone,

Just want to say thank you first of all for taking the time to read this and I really hope I am not alone with the feelings I haveOk here goes.......
I have been suffering from panic attacks for since I was 16 and I am not coming up for 26. I am a young male who loves going out with friends clubbing dubbing act the usual things. I have a partner who I have been with for nearly 6 years and I love him to bits. I have a great job that I used to love and do very well at. I am constantly being praised for the great work I do. I have a great home and rarely worry about money, well apart from the end of the month before pay day but don’t we all...?
Anyway recently my anxiety has got so bad that it is affecting my home life and social life. I feel myself become drenched with dread at work and start thinking all sorts of things like, I am ill or having a heart attack. I used to get these feelings about 5 years ago but I just kept telling myself Ur fine, what are you doing.. Stop being stupid!
For about a month now my anxiety has got really bad to the stage where I have called in work sick, switched my phone off at the weekends and stopped meeting friends. I am very sociable person and used to love going out to the pub for drinks on the weekends. When I get these attacks now I feel drained for hours after and they seem to last an a lot longer. I just can’t figure out what the hell is wrong with me. I never ever go to the doctor because I have always had the fear that he will say I am dying or something, I know it’s stupid and I don’t know why I think this. If I watch holby city ect and there’s a scene where someone has this horrible illness I start to panic and think I feel the same way to. I am always making myself think I am ill.

Veebuz said on 12 March 2012

I cannot talk to my Doctor about these things, as they are very dismissive.. This has got to the point where I don't bother going.
I had a Doctor for several years who always listened and I always came out on top of my depression. I moved, my medical records obviously didn't as my 'new' Doctor doesn't seem to have anything to refer to..
I have had issues with depression for years, but it has got to a stage now where it is completely folding in around me and severely affecting my everyday life. How can I get the doctors to listen, is there another avenue for advice?

chrissiekino said on 20 February 2012

I have suffered panic and anxiety for about 20 years. I am now at the stage where I cannot stay home alone or go out alone.I have someone with me at all times. My world has become so small that I do not know where to get help.I asked my GP for help and was referred to a lady to come to my home, she advised me to learn slow breathing and do small journeys out alone.Needless to say I could not do this.I have spent lots of money on books,cd's etc but to no avail.I have never met anyone else who suffers from GAD and feel ashamed to have to say to people that I can't go out to clubs or meetings alone.Every time I go out I feel anxious in case I get caught in traffic,I can't go on the by-passes or motorways,use public loo's or go to cities,shopping centres etc.
if anyone can point me in the direction of cognative theraphy on the NHS or even a local group in norfolk/suffolk I would be very grateful.I have even thought of starting a group where people can mail, phone or meet up to chat with like minded people.any suggestions

bbwez said on 12 February 2012

i suffer from anxiety... from that ive come to have an eating problem, scared of swollowing food, i have problems when i think about breathing, theres times i think i cant swallow and thats without food...so i turned to alcohol and now im an alcohlic..

TheVengefulElephant said on 11 February 2012

I don't think there will be many comments from males, it's not the sort of thing that we like to talk about :)

I'm a fairly typical 24 year old male, and although I've always been a worrier, I've never thought anything of it. Some of us are just worriers aren't we. It's a natural thing.

My girlfriend suffers with getting stressed easily, which coupled with recurring nightmares has led to her having mild depression for a number of years.

I've always been scared of the dentist, but having a broken tooth removed and 6 deep fillings was enough to put me over the edge! I can chuckle about it now, but this caused me to have my first Anxiety attack, to the point where I was unable to control my breathing. I was given Diazepam to get me through the dental work, and everything was fine afterwards.

6 months later we moved into our own house for the first time, and I had a second attack. This followed 3 weeks later with another attack. I'd started to worry about my partner now, and the worries wouldn't go. I'm an emergency call taker for the ambulance service, so I always hear peoples worst case scenarios at work, and I speak to the husbands of wives who have tried to harm themselves through depression, and I worry that this will happen to my partner. (My worry in turn makes her worry more which makes me worry more, we are a right pair!!) This all culminated in me having to go home sick from work, as I couldn't cope.

I knew it was time to see the GP, who is always the best first port of call. I've been given a low dose of Citalopram, an antidepressant which is very good at also calming anxieties. I'm no longer finding myself so anxious about normal worries and stresses, and I haven't had another anxiety attack (touch wood). I'm managing to put weight back on and I feel much better in myself, even just knowing that the help is there.

I know that when you're anxious you are scared, but you must go to the GP, they've seen it before and they want to help.

emmalouise1975 said on 30 October 2011

Hi Lucy3135
I too am exactly the same and constantly think I am going to die any day now. I had this 1st when I was 17 and suffered 3 yrs of panic attacks and agrophobia...then when I was 21 I got married and went on to have 7 children....my pregnancies and children brought me out of it and I was fine until Sept 12th this yr...I had a massive panic attack which stayed with me for 2 weeks...terrible suffering and I'm now on Mirtazapine to control the anxiety but besides this I think and feel my life is now over and think I am going to die as I have terrible palpitations and my heart misses a beat. The drs have found a murmur on my heart but say it will be ok but I don't believe them and am so scared of leaving my babies. You are not alone...and hopefully I will over ride this like I did before and be me again. Anxiety and worry are one of the worst things to suffer from...I hope you get better soon. Go and see your dr! I'm learning to tell myself if its gonna happen then it will happen...its all I can say to myself that makes sense really and makes me realise I'm doing this to myself! xxx

JOB1 said on 29 October 2011

Fact is everyone is different and requires a different solution.

I personally refuse to use anti depressants because I know myself. I know as soon as I came off them the old thoughts would return. I know someone who has used them very successfully. I think it depends how deep your depression is. I believe depression, anxiety, long term stress are all extensions of one another. You're basically not happy.

It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who experience this breathlessness, tightness in the chest, and anxiety, and not know where it comes from. Counselling helps some people, it won't help me.
It is a deep rooted problem, quickly discovered if you do some meditation & go within. Much harder to resolve. But you have to start somewhere. You need to quiet the mind, and you WILL give yourself the answer. It could be something from childhood or something more recent. Whatever it is, once you know, then you can start searching for either teachers to help you or good books if you're self motivated. You will feel lost, and you can always hit rock bottom no matter how much better you feel. But you have to trust that eventually you'll find the way, and quiet the mind to look for the path. This is not easy, but the rewards of a happy life are worth the effort I would say.

The main advice I can offer is stay active. I've seen people on benefits & depressed out of getting a job. Get a job. Doing something constructive & socialising is better than wallowing in your endless thoughts even if it pays minimum wage. But ensure you take the time to address your issues at some point.

Lucy 3135 said on 25 June 2011

Hi my feeling,I think how u are feeling is natural as you have been threw a lot! However u need to see your GP and ask to talk to someone who can help u threw how your feeling,they may help u sort things out and get u thinking a bit better (in more perspective) as when u feel anxious your mind runs away with you and you end up feeling negative about everything when other things are actually ok! Ie job etc.I find listening to a relaxation cd very calming when I get in a state hope you feel better soon.I don't have all the answers but I hope I help u a bit.

Lucy 3135 said on 22 June 2011

Has anyone had constant worry for last six months?

Lucy 3135 said on 22 June 2011

Hi I'm currently having a worrying nitemare,I worry every day that I'm dying I have got an under active thyroid and I feel bad.I can't enjoy anything as I feel I'm away worrying so I'm not really joining in on whatever's going on.I have a nice husband and an 9 month old son but I feel numb with worry I'm not really joining in with life.does anyone know what i can do? or feel the same?

My feeling said on 21 June 2011

Please would some help me, i am a ex Cancer patient, but i feel so ill with anxiety, i feel tighting pain in my chest, my hands go all sweated, its so painful, it makes me feel sick, i am writing this now because i had just being getting short of beathe, i av been layed on the bed trying to relax and take deep beathes, until it goes away, i never used to feel like this before, but i feel damaged in side my body, i feel stressed and i am always worring the worse of every thing, and every body its driving me crazy,, i just cant handle stress of life,no more with problems after problems.. i have a interview at the hospital for some volunary work i want to help others, but i feel i wont get it .. i just wish i would feel myself again.

Miro_Cansky said on 14 June 2011

One of the treatment options for anxiety is 'mindfulness'. This approach is in particularly helpful in changing our relationship with distressing thoughts and finding a way of feeling empowered to choose what we do or not do as a reaction to the anxiety. Some more ideas about how mindfulness helps with anxiety can be found here:
http://www.mindfulness4all.co.uk/what-is-mindfulness/mindfulness-for-anxiety

TRIBO32 said on 05 June 2011

how can i get treatment for social anxiety disorder?
do i just phone up my GP or do i have to do something else?

mapper said on 28 May 2011

After about fiteen years on anti-depressants and 12 sessions of CBT ( the maximum you can have , as far as I can tell) I'm still getting up each day with the ghost of depression haunting me. I do not have social phobia , I don't think, but I do seem to avoid meeting people as it is an effort toget to know people and go out to meet them. Has anyone got any suggestions ?

mattsmith360 said on 19 January 2011

I have written a short article on Anxiety, specifically social anxiety - please check it out - http://hubpages.com/hub/helpwithanxiety

cantthink said on 17 July 2010

I was just wondering if you had any infomation on Social Anxiety/Social Phobia?

Generalised anxiety disorder

Introduction

Anxiety

Do I have generalised anxiety disorder?

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

How common is anxiety?

How is anxiety treated?

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