GAD...

So after talking myself up to finally making 'that' doctors appointment I did it.

After a chat, he told me I'm possibly suffering with Generalised Anxiety Disorder and that a final diagnosis will be made by the psychiatrist that he is referring me to. Anyone else had this diagnosis?

He gave me beta blockers to deal with the physical effects of the anxiety but to be completely honest it doesn't help with the constant dread and worry. It just controls the thumping heart... most of the time.

Also tried putting me back on Anti D's but I refused. I can deal with the depression... Not the anxiety and panic.

My GP thinks I have GAD and I have to say having read up on it, it pretty much fits how I was at my worst. I know how awful that constant anxiety it. I used to wake up in the morning with feeling of dread, the minute I opened my eyes my heart was pounding, every situation I encountered during the day caused a similar reaction. My GP discussed Beta blockers with me and we decided against it and I also refused antidepressants after taking one tablet and vomitting for two days solid, thereby compounding my pill phobia. My saving grace has been my cognitive therapy and relaxation techniques. I used lavender and rescue remedy and the cbt and it really worked for me. At my lowest, I felt I could not imagine living the rest of life in a constant state of anxiety, I used to wake with night anxiety attacks with a pounding heart and sit up for hours playing really mind numbing computer games until I calmed down. I am not saying I am panic free and my mum teases me that I worry about nothing still but that 24 hour anxiety has ceased and when it does re emerge I can usually control it to a great extent. Stressful situations can set it off more but I am trying to learn to avoid it. My CBT was a group one and I found it so reassuring to find out other people were like me too and were conquering it, we shared our coping strategies and compared notes! I really feel for you and hope that it gets better for you soon.

Why refues the anti deppresants??? pride??? If you were diabetic you would take the meds. Truts me, I have been through the pride for many years. then I litened to the Doctor. One life. It's short. So get the help you need. http://crusader.synthasite.com

There is no doubt that anti-depressants are essential to some people's recovery and I did a lot of research when I was prescribed them, but for me they were not the answer, I think the individual and their mental health worker, doctor etc needs to discuss and make an informed decision based on their individual circumstances. I had a long talk with my doctor and we discussed the options and implications and I have been lucky enough to have been able to cope with other strategies. For my friend however, they have been the very thing she needs and have aided her recovery. I think it is very easy to think that they will be a cure all but other things need to be in place as well.

Thank you for your comments.

Just to address crusader, I was diagnosed with depression 18 years ago and since have been on and off different anti depressants and know that for me they are not what helps me fight it. So no, its not a 'pride' thing its a knowing my own mental state thing.

I am really hoping that the cbt is going to really help as I have in the past been through a councellor and have had unsuccessful half hearted results partly me and partly the councellor so with any luck I will be on the road to recovery very soon.

Hi princessTATTOO,

I suffered with GAD for about 8 years - but I am almost fully recovered now. Just need to address a couple of issues and I will be fine again.

With regards to medication, I took pills for just over a year and did not feel any improvement at all - nothing. So I stopped. All under doctor's supervision and I stopped gradually. I can't really remember which tablets they were, it was about 5-6 years ago.

I know you are going to have CBT, but it may be helpful to visit this website that was set up by someone who recovered from anxiety problems. It helped me a LOT. The address is: http://www.anxietynomore.co.uk/

It is worth noting that I have a brilliant therapist, who I have been seeing for about 5 years. However, I think that the more knowledge you have about the problem, how it happens etc, the better - and the website I am recommending to you is really helpful. But a combination of knowledge, willingness to change, a humongous amount of patience, courage and a good therapist is the right recipe for recovery, in my humble opinion.

I hope this can be of some help to you!

Good luck!