general anxiety disorder?

Question

i was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder in February. my symptoms (physically) have improved greatly. i took buspar for 4 months. most of my anxiety attacks have gone, i've been eating normal for the most part, and sleeping a little better. i had quit taking my medicine because i could never remember it, and it always made me dizzy to the point that i felt sick. it never really helped with the emotional effects of my anxiety, though. i'm a hypochondriac. i've been terrified of having a brain tumor or some sort of terrible disease for months now. ive had two blood tests in the past few months, all of which came back fine. at night, i've also noticed, when i finally fall asleep, i wake up thinking i completely stopped breathing, but i didn't. it is not sleep apnea. i do not actually stop breathing. and i feel like i'm shaking terribly. but if you look at me i'm not. sometimes i look at the wall or something and it looks like there's weird designs on it. is this anxiety?

Answer 1

Yes I do think that its anxiety. Stress, nerves and anxiety can make a person feel like they are going crazy!!!!!

Answer 2

What you are going through is called catastrophic thinking. This happens to a person when they are overly stressed. You have so many things going on that your brain thinks of the worst things it can to distract you from dealing with the real issues of your life. I went through the same thing and YES it is anxiety. I STRONGLY suggest looking into www.stresscenter.com
I went on this program and I CANNOT speak highly enough of it and I think anyone who suffers from anxiety/panic/depression/ocd can benefit from this. It teaches you how to take control so you're anxiety can't get the best of you. There are some tests on the site you can take to see if the program might fit you.

All the best! You will get through this, you are NOT crazy, and you are worth taking care of.

Answer 3

* Medication: Medicines are available to treat GAD and may be especially helpful for people whose anxiety is interfering with daily functioning. The medications most often used to treat GAD are from a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These medications are sometimes referred to as "tranquilizers," because they leave you feeling calm and relaxed. They work by decreasing the physical symptoms of GAD, such as muscle tension and restlessness. Common benzodiazepines include Xanax, Librium, Valium and Ativan. Another medicine, BuSpar, also may be used to treat chronic anxiety. BuSpar works by affecting the activity of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Unlike the benzodiazepines, BuSpar does not cause sedation (sleepiness) or lead to dependency. Antidepressants, such as Paxil and Effexor, are also being used to treat GAD
* Cognitive-behavioral therapy: People suffering from anxiety disorders often participate in this type of therapy, in which you learn to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. This type of therapy helps limit distorted thinking by looking at worries more realistically.

Answer 4

This is anxiety.. an all natural alternative to meds is valerian root. It's like nature's xanax. Take it before bed to help you sleep or as needed during the day. Like all meds, it does take some time to start working so don't be discouraged.