Looking at me you wouldn't think anything was wrong with me. I'm a little short and kinda skinny. Other than that I am pretty normal. I've had GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder since I was about 9 or 10. I wasn't diagnosed till 2008. GAD affects people in different ways. A few of the symptoms are nausea, nervousness, insommnia and panic attacks. GAD is defined as excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday things.
The thing that got me diagnosed was panic attacks. People who have never had a panic attack have no idea how bad they are. When I first started having them I would get that feeling you get when you think something bad is going to happen, sort of a sinking feeling. It would last for a few minutes and then go away. Slowly they started getting worse. I would get that same feeling, but I would get nauseated too. In the last 6 months or so they got even worse. I would get that scared sinking feeling, then I would get all shakey, then I would have hot and cold flashes. All that would be happening and I would feel nauseated too. Eventually I would throw up and feel better. That's a pretty good description of the worst one I've ever had.
After you have a panic attack you feel completely drained. You just want to lay around and do nuthin but watch tv. Panic attacks are nothing to joke about. They are a serious issue to deal with. You have no control over them. A lot of the time there is no warning. Panic attacks can be pretty intense. After you've had one you always worry that you'll have another one. I'm glad I'm finally being treated for panic attacks.
I never thought I would be greatful for a medication, but I am. I'm not going to tell you the name of my medication because it doesn't matter what it is called as long as it helps me. I take it every morning after breakfast. It has to be taken with food because it could upset my stomach. My medication makes me feel calm and relaxed. It seems to me that it boosts my confidence a little bit. Sometimes it makes me sleepy.
Would you know what to do if someone said to you,"I'm having a panic attack!!"? Most people don't know what to do. The thing that helps me the most is being able to talk to someone to take my mind off of it. They only last 2-3 minutes, but those 2-3 minutes can feel like 20-30 minutes sometimes.
I hope you learned something from me and about me that you didn't already know. The next time you see me don't be afraid to say HI. I'm a normal human being just like everybody else. I just have a little glitch. Don't worry, you can't get GAD from hugging someone. It's a genetic thing. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day. :)
