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Sunday, August 16, 2009 Steven1227 asks

Q: I need help badly regarding my GAD symptoms severely acting up.................

Hi. I'm wondering if anybody here would be able to help me with my recent and unexpected bouts with anxiety, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It was not diagnosed in the traditional sense, but based on my personal research this is the conclusion I came to about 3 years ago (the end of summer, beginning of 9th grade). Over the 3 years it was reduced and subsided to the degree that I no longer believed I had GAD. But now, 2 weeks before the commencement of my college career, it has resurfaced to a degree I cannot recall. I am creating innumerable subjects of intense worry, ranging from things like 13 and everyday activity. This is causing what I perceive to be intense panic attacks, mostly emanating shortly after my waking up. They happen daily and it is a cycle that is devasting to my hopes of this fading away. At the moment the primary source of anxiety is 13, and my conscious insistence on spotting it everywhere. This causes me to avoid doing things in the future as well as ceasing things I would normally do. I am making everything seem unlucky now and it is making me socially inactive and incredibly apathetic towards every facet of my existence. My psychologist says I am creating these worries regarding 13 as an escape patch, a conscious area of worry to shield my subconscious trepidations regarding school. I am not worried about school at all but there must be a reason why it has now come up in these other forms (primarily 13). This is an issue that now has me contemplating anti anxiety medications to ease the effects. I really want to do something different to combat these intrusive thoughts, and medication is new and appealing to me. I guess my question is, should I take any medication? If so, what do you recommend?

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8/17/09 7:53pm

Steven

 

Thank you for your question and welcome to AnxietyConnection.com.

 

I am not a medical professional and would not be able to give you medical advice. However, it sounds as if you are having a hard time right now. From your previous questions, I see you are already seeing a psychologist, talking with him or her would be the place to start. You may also want to talk with a psychiatrist if you are not comfortable with the diagnosis or the treatment plan.

 

Even if you choose to take medication, and your doctor feels this is the right choice, medication is not a cure for anxiety. You will still need to incorporate behavioral strategies to help cope with and manage anxiety symptoms.

 

I would imagine you are quite nervous about starting college in a few weeks and this could certainly cause anxiety symptoms, even if you don't feel anxious.

 

I would suggest speaking with a doctor and your psychologist as soon as possible so you can continue preparing for the upcoming college year.

 

For more information:

 

Anxiety Treatment

 

Eileen

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