Posted by Poet on December 29, 2003, at 11:33:26
In reply to Help- how can i tell if i have GAD??, posted by dragonfly25 on December 28, 2003, at 18:07:14
Hi Dragonfly,
Welcome to Babble. There are lots of online quizes you can take for GAD. Keep in mind that anxiety has many causes and symptoms: I have social anxiety as well as depression and am a recovered/ing bulimic.
Is your anxiety about school specifically about class(es) or grades or ? Did you feel okay until something just started worrying you or has it been going on a long time and has gotten worse?
My social anxiety has been there since I was a little girl. I used to hide in class and pray nobody noticed me. I never volunteered an answer and stammered if called upon even if I knew the answer. In college I blamed my bulimia for running to the ladies room to throw up after giving presentations in front of the class. Foolish me, it was social anxiety and I didn't know it.
For me meds and therapy have helped me a great deal. I still get panicky but not nearly as bad. My therapist suggested I go to grad school, but I need to work my way up to that, so I'm taking writing classes. I can do presentations in front of the class without fear!
Please don't go off your meds cold turkey. My doctor (she's not a psychiatrist, just family medicine) told me if I decide to go off it to call her and she'll tell me how and when to gradually lower the dose.
Talk to your doctor or better yet, find a new doctor as soon as you can. Your current doctor might not be experienced with treating anxiety and doesn't realize that what he thinks is everyday stress is much more intense for you.
Therapy is something that you will have to decide for yourself if it's helping you. It's very painful for me, but it has helped.
Let me know how you're doing.
Poet
poster:Poet
thread:294108
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031221/msgs/294293.html