What it's like to live with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder to more than just stress and it's different than panic. It's a persistent feeling of anxiety lasting most of the day.

[miriamyunus]

GAD is very hard to live with. You always feel stressed. It's rare you can relax for a large amount of time. People with GAD will never know what it's like to be chilling. You tend to be worried about things that probably would never happen, but yet you're still scared. You feel like you have no control over your life sometimes.

[joshuamandaglio]

I have generalized anixety disorder and it feels like every day is a struggle

[DonnHowes]

I could remember several years ago after divorce with my wife, i suffered severe anxiety and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until a friend recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 6 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.

[shawnr]

I hide it well, I think. Then I collapse as soon as I get home

[alzon]

So who else with GAD can't specifically identify a source of "worries", but is constantly anxious without real rhyme or reason.

[cyanbrandohs]

I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and i can barely do a damn thing with my life

[mghum]

There was a time in my life where I felt so low so I looked for a professional opinion. I was shocked when I knew that people don’t have a million thoughts all the time, I was surprised when I realized that people can have something called clarity of mind, no thoughts, worries, or problems to process. I never knew that people can experience those little moments which are stress free. I was relieved to know that there was something wrong so I can fix it.

Sometimes we can be so blind to notice our issues, please seek help if you are struggling.

[clarkallen]

This video brought me to tears. She nailed it for me. I know I have had GAD ever since I can remember.

[TalhaAButt]

Shoutout to all who have been diagnosed with GAD like me, trying to fight it and go through it, Im sure you'll make it, don't lose hope

[johnzimmer]

I was diagnosed with GAD several years ago and I really feel like most people don’t have an understanding of how debilitating it can be. Some people don’t even think it’s real and many will look at you like you’re crazy for having it. Having to explain it to a doctor is hard without them thinking you’re pill shopping. Everyday is like being trapped in endless misery. I’ve come to the point of self medication because doctors refuse to prescribe benzos even though they work for my disorder. I hate that people will use my disorder against me, because it isn’t always recognizable. Anyway, I just think people need to look at it as a very real mental disorder and condition.

[chloehales]

I was diagnosed with Generalized anxiety disorder when I was 9yrs but I’ve had it my whole life and before I was diagnosed or learned about what it was I thought I was just being dramatic or overreacting. Seeing these comments and seeing that I’m not alone has really helped me.

[mpxzygj]

To anyone reading this who is trying to cure their anxiety: All I can say is be determined about curing your anxiety. Become OBSESSED with getting well. That is the very thing that I believe allowed me to completely transform the anxiety I had, but which I no longer do.

[diamondnelson]

I am diagnosed with generalized anxiety and it makes it hard to feel confident

[ddoperations]

I’ve had it for over 30 years. I look back to my childhood and see a huge trauma I experienced when it began. I’m pretty sure it’s a form of ptsd. Biologically my amygdala probably got fried and now is hyperactive. I understand why it would be a survival mechanism for humans but damn it sure is hell to live with.

[lauriejordan]

Thank you for stating how debilitating it can be. I have lost years of my life either locked in my bathroom crying or sitting in a doctors office or hospital crying. Unfortunately, my youngest son has also developed a severe anxiety disorder. He is unable to leave the house. I’ve actually had to pull him out of school and enroll him in cyber school. We are both on medication as well as seeing a therapist twice a week please pray it gets easier for us. I’m certainly praying that it gets easier for all of you.

[hannanixon]

I have GAD my family doesnt get it they ask why i am anxious all the time and i can't help it. They like to pretend nothing is wrong with me. I worry 24/7 i havent left the house in weeks. But they think im fine

[pupisuci]

Have had severe GAD as long as I remember, my family doesn't believe in mental illnesses so I just struggle alone. Can't wait till I'm 18 so I can go to therapy. I'm barely functioning and no one seems to want to understand why. I'm having a severe anxiety attack right now

[HypnoTreatz]

I feel like I have passed "generalized anxiety". I'm 28 years old and I have anxiety since I was 7. It's now progressed into full blown sensorimotor OCD. It has full control over me. I don't work, I have no income, and I am so embarrassed/scared to seek any professional help. I feel like such a burden to my family. They don't understand, my father makes this 10x worse. He calls me a bum, says I am lazy, he doesn't see how hard I am working every single day to just not kill myself. I know, more then likely, no one is going to read this but, if you do, just know, you're not alone! Suicide isn't the answer but, I sure do think about it a lot. I don't know if I can kill myself. I don't want to, but I don't want to live like this anymore. The constant state of panic attacks and suffering in silence is starting to really really make my decision to kill myself seem not so insane.

[jonaichs]

I love how general anxiety can make you lose the moment and not get lost in the moment . The uncertainty trap no resolve. Just mental emotional distress at its worst.

[savannah]

i got diagnosed with GAD when i was 16… as well as PTSD. i personally don’t remember a time in my life where i have been genuinely happy and relaxed. it’s always been “something”, and those “somethings” can be more than three things.
i still think about the first meeting i had with my boss everyday, more than once a day. and i get worried it’ll make me lose my job sometimes…even if it’s been months