Anyone out there have GAD and what has worked for you?
822548
I have GAD, and am 23 years old.  Here is what has helped me most:\n\n-Surrounding myself with understanding, supportive people\n-Spending time outside (it relaxes me - what would work for her depends on what relaxes her)\n-Hot (decaffeinated) tea at night\n-Avoiding coffee, colas, and other sources of caffeine\n-Talking with my doctor\n-25 mg of Paxil each day (carefully chosen and prescribed to me by my doctor)\n-Smiling and maintaining a happy attitude\n\nBest of luck with your daughter - GAD is rough, she'll need plenty of support and open arms!  :)
904546
Listen to information,  info. which is self-help  by  Jon Kababt-Zinn.  He is a self-help author of over 17 books, and 7 audio CD books.  He specializes in helping people with anxiety, adhd, stress, bi-polar,  worry,  depression, and many others  life  challenges.  He does not specifically talk about these labels people are given to by most Dr.s  but  he gives people the self coping skills they need to succeed in every aspect of life.\nA couple of books he has put out are "Coming to our Senses",  "Wherever you are, there you are.",  "Full Catastrophe Living."\nHe  is  A  Doctor, with a PhD(he has over 12 yrs of education).  He is very  positive and encouraging in the way he presents things and conveys information.  He most definately provides the successful skills needed for you, and anyone else in life to deal with any challenges or sickness of any kind.\n\nHis books on amazon.com start at only $3.70\n\nAnd no,  I do not work for this Dr\n\nI have 7 of his books and a few of his audio CD\nbooks, which have helped me with occasional low self-esteem.\n\nHis techniques really work..   Check out his books when time is available for you.\n\nExcellent Question.  Happy Holidays  to  You. \n \n  THANK  YOU !!
962198
Not really - you could try Kalms or St Johns Wort - some say they work but never have for me.  If its that bad go and see your GP xx
801214
Ask your general practice doctor for a script for a couple mild sedatives.  I have a friend who's in essentially the same situation, and it's worked well for her.  Otherwise, a small dose of an anti-anxiety med may just do the trick, also.  Make sure you let your MD know what it's for, as he/she may have an even better solution.  :)  Although... I work in a hospital where exams/dental work done under general anesthesia isn't completely uncommon, so you're definitely not alone in your dilemma!  you should try and go before you wind up with a lot of work that needs to be done, though!  Good Luck!
483842
Give the medication a try. I used anti-anxiety meds and it also helped with depression. And the medication did not make me high, woozy, dizzy, or anything else. I felt normal, just better.
846493
I sympathise as I have the same problem.\n\nMost of mine seems to be brought on by stress, though some foods do trigger it.\n\nI've done a test http://www.yorktest.com/ that told me I was intolerant to lactose/dairy, gluten and eggs. However I find that a combination of brown bread and natural yoghurt will settle me down - so it's best to go on what YOU find out rather than what people say.\n\nSpice will always set me off, but I love spice, so I do have it every so often, but I try and plan it, so that I take the tablets prescribed beforehand so that I'm less likely to be severely affected.\n\nI have got a LOT better since I started meditating - it gives me a little time to de-stress. It's fun to do it with a group - I did it for a time with a local buddhist-run group - but it's nice on your own too. Try http://www.wildmind.org for to get you started - the Mindfulness of Breathing and the Metta Bhavana meditations are both really nice. Burning some Nag Champa Agarbatti incense helps too, plus smells lovely.\n\nBasically experiment with removing foods from your diet for a short time, and also see if you can notice any pattern e.g. is it worse when you eat a particular food.\n\nIf you notice a food or foods that help relieve it a little, keep a stock. Even if it makes you feel a little better it's good.\n\nIf you can't control it by diet alone, see if your doctor can help you with tablets. You may be able to get over the counter Immodium to work, but it didn't with me so I ended up getting Lomotil prescribed by the doctor. But I only use that when I really have to, so as not to build up a tolerance to it.\n\nI'm a lot better now than I was, but it does come and go - sometimes I can be fine for wekks, then have a bit of an attack for a few weeks, but it's getting better.\n\nGood luck!
800771
This is a serious illness in which I also have.  I take medication and go to cognitive behavioral therapy.  This helps you to "train" and "change" your thoughts from bad ones and get rid of the "what ifs."\n\nI usually suffer when driving and it is scary.  Hang in there, I know that it is a long fight, but maybe it is good to know that you are not alone :)
620416
i have the same problem.  havent found anything yet that works, other than pain meds that knock me out.  good luck
1148458
I can so relate to you. I have GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) with panic attacks and used to be agoraphobic because of them. Going to sleep is not going to help them...the best thing you can do is face the attacks. As frightening as it may be to do this, it is the ONLY way. Unless of course you plan on sedating yourself with some sort of med that's only going to hide the problem.\n\nYou conditioned yourself to be this way, you can condition yourself to not be this way. Grocery stores were a major problem, I couldn't shop. Hubby had to do all of our shopping. However, one day I made myself go in and I bought one item...got through the line and left. Full of panic....felt like I was going to pass out but instead of the normal "What if..." self talk, I replaced it with "So what..." self talk. Then the next day, I went back in and I walked down as many aisles as I could...and purposefully brought on an attack and made myself go through it. OMG, how freeing was it to remain, facing that attack, and NOTHING horrible happened. I didn't pass out, I didn't have a heart attack, I didn't lose control or make a fool of myself. I continued this for about 2 weeks..sometimes buying something, sometimes just browsing...and finally after years of a self imposed prison..I went out grocery shopping all by myself.\n\nWhile shopping may not be the issue for you......facing any of your fears or what causes the panic is what will set you free. If you need to talk, email me. Good luck.
780580
Talk to your doctor about your anxiety.  There are several medications on the market that can control the symptoms and allow you to have a normal life.  Your doctor may even have a suggestion for a therapist you can work with to learn to modify your reactions to the anxiety.  If your doctor doesn't have a suggestion ... open the phone and start calling therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists until you find one that works with anxiety-related problems.\n\nSome of the things you can try on your own are:\n\n#1 -- Start journaling, if you don't already.  Carry a notebook with you and jot down all of your random thoughts and fears in the notebook, especially when you start to get the anxious feelings.  Abuse the heck out of the notebook instead of yourself.  Then once a day or once a week (or even never), whenever you are in a safe place that you don't have anxiety symptoms -- read back through what you've written to see if you can find the source of your anxiety.  Work on that source.\n\n#2 -- Turn off the voice in your head.  I know that sounds silly, but that's exactly what I had to do when my anxiety was/is out-of-control.  I literally lock myself in my car or a bathroom stall or my bedroom and I tell the voice:  "Shut-up!  You are lying.  I am _____ (a positive angle for whatever your particular anxiety is)."  Repeat your new-found mantra as often as you want to turn off the voice in your head.  That voice is still there and it still talks to me, but I don't have to listen to its lies.  :)\n\nGood luck!
48295
It is working now. Here is the link:\nhttp://www.gi-wellness.com/
668640
Kudos to granniewinkie!  I'm right there with you, lady!  Listen to her!!\n\nIt doesn't really sound like you have AADD; it *does* sound like you're burning your candle at both ends and are dangerously close to meeting in the middle.\n\nTake the advice of a lot of these folks and find a calm time for yourself ~ even the luxury of a hot bubble bath can eases the stresses of the day.\n\nOne of the things I do with tasks that I'd rather not do, is do them first and get them out of the way.  That way, I cannot procrastinate and I have something to look forward to instead of something to dread.
977026
A psychologist specializing in phobias and anxiety treatment can help you. The condition is almost always curable.\nBest of luck.
817493
Exercise has always helped me - a brisk walk, some Tae-Bo or even some yoga.  Whatever gets my blood pumping and clears my head.  If that doens't work, I just sit in a quiet room and do some deep breathing.  Pure silence is the best thing in the world sometimes.  I used to take Xanax, which did help, but I knew I needed to find a more permanent cure.  I don't want to rely on drugs for my mental health.
961597
See your doctor and try Paxil. It works for me. Also check out this website http://www.stresscenter.com/cts/21347914. These tapes are great and this woman offers a lot of help and hope.
37668
I  have a child who has anxiety; has had symptoms for as long as I can remember.  I take more time with her, continually reasure her, I have her stop what she's doing for a minute and have her do breathing exercises, focus on calming down,etc...  I suffer from attacks, and finally got meds to help, but with a child, I'm very hesitant to resort to drug therapy if it can be avoided.
256632
Excessive Worry is a psychological problem.  It will age you, it will make you depressed, ill, but not only will it affect you but everyone that's around you on a daily basis.\n\nHere is an insert from this website I found on worry.\n\nGeneral anxiety disorder or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry about everyday things. The frequency, intensity, and duration of the worry are disproportionate to the actual source of worry, and such worry often interferes with daily functioning. \n\nGAD sufferers often worry excessively over things such as their job, their finances, or the health of themselves and their family. However, GAD sufferers can also worry over more minor matters such as deadlines for appointments, keeping the house clean, and whether or not their workspace is properly organized.\n\n\nWHAT IS NORMAL WORRY:\n\nAnxiety, depression, worry and fear can be very normal. You become anxious when threatened or when you think about being threatened. The heart beats fast, there is a need to overbreathe, you get the cold sweats and shakes. These are all normal changes that will help your body function best if you have to run or fight. But in this modern world we are threatened and get anxious in places where physical activity does not help. Thus the body changes are identified not as helpful but as harmful and unnatural. But being a little anxious is good. It sharpens up judgement and skill and you will cope better. Being psyched up is a good thing if you have a difficult challenge ahead. \n\nIf you become anxious over and over in the same situation then you will learn to fear that situation and try to avoid it and others like it. If you know that you will have to deal with the situation sometime in the future you will worry about it, using the worry to think of a way of solving the problem. If all goes badly and you lose something you value or love then you will get depressed, which can be helpful in giving you time to recover from the loss. So being anxious, fearful, worried or depressed is a useful part of a normal life.\n\nSmall amounts of these feelings can be helpful and actually improve your ability to cope. Persistent or severe anxiety, fear, worry or depression feels awful, and can reduce your ability to cope with your difficulties. And not coping can make things a lot worse. There are simple ways of controlling the levels of these feelings. They can be used together.\n\nhttp://www.helphelpmerhonda.ca/winning.html\n\nhttp://www.stressrelease.com/checklist.html\n\nhttp://www.lexapro.com/english/understanding_anxiety/default.aspx??PlacementGUID=705E5263-B702-45F3-AFD1-60B6DC09A62B\n\nThe lexapro site is a good one take a look at it.\n\nIf you are suffering from this, then you need to seek help. Good Luck.