Generalized anxiety disorder explained by a sufferer

Hi @pepsi97, I love the astute description of your General Anxiety Disorder. It definitely paints a picture for those without it. I know that @guener, @trellg132, @downtowntiger, @yangedd and @johnhans have experienced either GAD or Anxiety. Pepsi, how do you calm and control your GAD?

I too was diagnosed with GAD during my one year follow-up after breast and thyroid cancer. So many of the possible medicines interact with tamoxifen. Instead of taking “another” pill I exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. I do meditation and deep breathing exercises for 30 minutes a day. And just had my first acupuncture treatment at Mayo. It was wonderful! It was recommended I get a TDP lamp. Has anyone used one? I hope I can find an acupuncturist when I get home. I indeed want to try to follow-up on a regular basis. As a result of the treatment some of my neuropathy that resulted from chemotherapy has lessened. Has anyone else experienced good results from acupuncture?

Have used my light for years..."Sad" starts for me every fall as we are on north side of equator..Vit D we get in summer. Light really works. Midwest ...

Take deep breaths remember how good I really Have it. When it gets negative try To move on something better.

Great example of GAD that I totally relate to. I usually wake every night and mind runs uncontrollably with similar worries. They seem intensified in the night and can’t get back to sleep without taking medications.

@pepsi97
A positive attitude can work wonders. I don’t understand why you choose to do something positive and then turn it into something negative. Did you ask if any of your ”what if’s” could happen at the time you paid your bill? If you had, wouldn't you have avoided your negative thoughts? Why not be happy and relieved your bill is paid instead of all the negative worrying. I have paid plenty of bills on the last day of the billing cycle and I’ve never had a problem. Even when I have been late making payments because of vacations or whatever they charge me a late fee which is completely understandable however when I notice the fee on my bill I simply call up the company and explain the situation and 99% of the time write the late charge off. Does it do you any good to stress, worry and become anxious about what ifs?
Jake

Hi @jakedduck1, thank you for your point of view. I just want to point out that it’s important to remember with open forums, we remain aware and sensitive to illnesses that we may not share with other members. Staying positive is a great outlook for everyone to have in life, but having anxiety and being positive are not necessarily related. If you don't have an anxiety disorder, it can be hard to know what to say. There’s a difference between the uncomfortable anxiety we all get in stressful situations and the sometimes paralyzing stress that comes with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Although a positive frame of mind can contribute to how someone views their illness, it certainly doesn’t mean they are not positive just because they are struggling or dealing with a mental illness. I did attach a help guide below for anyone wanting to read more about what GAD is and the symptoms surrounding it. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad.htm