This is a picture of me taken by my 2-year-old in the summer 2010 and it beautifully preserves my anonymity! I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in October 2010 after many years of worry followed by a sudden realisation that my worrying was far from normal (near constant). The dawning realisation that I had a problem made things worse and I was beginning to think I was loosing my mind. The realisation that I have a mental health problem is obviously not welcome. I feel uncomfortable with the stigma attached to having a diagnosis, but somehow having the courage to admit there is a problem seems necessary so that I can get help and get better.
I searched for websites that might offer some positive insights from the perspective of people with GAD when I was first diagnosed; I assumed that somewhere I would find accounts of those with GAD who had got, or were getting better. Since I didn’t find much that helped me I’ve started this blog and hope that I might be able to share ideas and plot a course of recovery.
Every now and again I do a progress report of things that have helped me on the road to recovery. Not advice, but evidence of change that gives me hope when I have a bad day and may give hope to others. You can see it using the above link or the page above ‘Stepping Stones in Overcoming Worry’.
Beating Worry 
very cool effort you’re doing here! luv the profile shot. nothing but the brilliance of babes. thanks for taking us on your journey. keep on!
Sana
Many thanks for the words of encouragement, which are much appreciated.
Best wishes
Juile x
my pleasure juile! i’m feeling hungry looking at all these m & m’s though!
Juile, great blog you have built here. I too have GAD and am writing about my experiences and thoughts. I would like to add you to my blogroll of similar blogs, best of luck on your journey to recovery, x
Hi Jessica
Many thanks for your comment and good to see that you too are writing about GAD – I hope that more and more people will realise that it is a condition and that it’s treatable. You’re welcome to add me to your blogroll.
Look forward to keeping in touch and hearing about your progress.
Julie x
Thanks Julie for setting this up. I’ve had heavy problems on and off for about 5 years, not sure whether it is depression or GAD. I feel I need to get better diagnosis so that we can get to more effective treatment. Been on 3 types of SSRI but gave them up 8 months ago as I don’t trust them. It has been difficult!
I’m looking forward to learning from your experience and that of others contributing here. It can only help.
Thanks again.
Paul
Hi Paul
Many thanks for getting in touch. I hope that whatever you find helps you – if you’d like to keep us posted, that would be grand.
Very best wishes
Julie
Hello, I’ve just been looking on the net at GAD and found it a mild releif in itself, I have suffered from this ever since I can remember which was having a very scary panic attack when I was just the vulnerable age of around 8 :(, I am now 22 and have never told anyone not even my family about how I go about worrying 24/7 but I finally told my gf of 1 year after I had a break down and realised that my behavoir was affecting how I was with her I won’t go into it but just involved me feeling cut off and isolated in my thoughts of worry, i also hae the fear of being well even though it is the thing i most want in life and the few times I wake up feeling fine with no worry I soon find my self worrying about not worrying and in a few minutes will think of something to ruin my great feeling of happiness and my whole day or even week, I’m so glad I’m not alone in this because since yesterday I thought I was alone until I confessed all to my gf attempting to explain the way I am to her and I just needed to sleep to just turn off my thoughts even just for an hour, and which is when she looked up my feelings on the Internet, and now here I am I now I want help but don’t know where to go, comments will be greatly appreciated because I’ve just had enough, thankyou Terry
Hi Terry
Sorry to hear that things have been so difficult for you and that you have been living in distress and in isolation. It must have taken real courage to tell your gf. It’s been my experience that telling a few well chosen people is one of the first steps to getting better. I hope that you find this site helpful, it really is possible to get better from GAD, though it can take a bit of time. I was diagnosed last October and have gone from wondering how I’d get through to the next day to actually being much better and relaxed a lot of the time – which I never thought possible. I hope that this will be the case for you too.
If you decide to get some help for your anxiety you may wish to contact
Anxiety UK, which offers a week day office hours help telephone line 08444 775 774 for confidential advice from people who understand. My route was to phone my GP, which is a group practice and ask for a Dr that specializes in mental health. This took great courage and I cried for a good while after making the call, but it the result was that I got a Dr that really has been helpful. If you are in a crisis situation you may wish to call the Samaritans, they too will listen for free 08457 90 90 90. This advice is relevant to the UK, if you are from another country do let me know where!
You are not alone, there is – almost to my surprise – a whole community of people who access this site. Do let me know how you get on.
Very best wishes
Julie
Hey thankyou so much for your reply, it all became too much for me lately so I got straight on the phone to see my doctor, I had to fill out a questionnaire for depression and had to get a blood test the next day to make sure it wasn’t a physical problem causin it all, i was distressed that nothing was don’t there and then but like the doc said, she would rather help me properly than just stick me on some drugs and just forget about me, I just really hope i get taken seriously, thankyou so much for your reply and the help numbers they may come in handy, i am seeing the doc again Thursday when they get my results back, I can’t wait to get some real help because everyday is like a battle with myself and I hate it, I’ll keep you posted thankyou
Terry
So pleased to hear that you had the courage to take action and see your GP. You took a step towards your recovery, you’re on the way – do keep us posted, we’ll be thinking of you.
Julie
My daughter is 13 and has we have been told she has generalised anxiety disorder it’s at a point now that when we go shopping she won’t go to get us an item and has no social life and school is a no go . I’am going to read your blog as I think it will be interesting to read .
Hi Nancy
Sorry to hear your daughter has been diagnosed with GAD, hopefully you will find the diagnosis useful in determining the best way to help her. Do you have good support in terms of doctors/children’s services/psychologist? Are you in the UK?
I hope that it is useful to read my experience – though of course everyone is different. There is definitely hope for recovery. Do keep me posted, will be thinking of you
J x
Hi Julie
My doctor recommended your website to me and I am really glad that he did. I was visiting the doctor because I was diagnosed with GAD and Social Axiety Disorder three years ago when I was doing a stressful course. After having 20 weeks of CBT I used the ‘tools’ that they gave me in every day life for over a year. Unfortunately, the panic attacks have never gone away and have recently got worse so I went back to my doctor. It is really helpful to read other peoples experiences because it makes me a feel a bit more normal. This week I have tried to use some of your tips which has really helped. It is a big thing fo me just writing on your blog with the ‘worry’ that people I know will work out it is me writing but I am getting married next year and I want to get better for that. The disorders take over my life at the moment- I still go to work but I am exhausted every day from my thoughts and I have not enjoyed key events in my life like family weddings because I have had panic attacks and worries throughout the day.
Look forward to reading more about your recovery.
V xxx
Hi Vicky
Thank you so very much for your post – and your courage in posting it!
The fact that you and I have admitted there is a problem and committed to working it out means that we are on the road to recovery. There are loads of people the same of us – one in 25 has GAD and 1 in 4 people seek help from a doctor for mental health problems. So we are a normal part of the population.
I’m sorry that your panic attacks haven’t yet gone away, I hope they will and that you find what you need to help.
You can post here whenever you like. You can let us know of things you’ve tried if you like, or just read what others post.
I’m sorry I’ve taken a while to write back, I used to read and respond every day, but now try to look at the site about once a week.
Take good care – I’m rooting for you.
Very best wishes
Julie xxx
Hi Julie. I have been a “worrier” for years people have a laugh at how much I dwell and go over things. I recently have had a number of “anxiety attacks” I thought I was going to die or my heart would stop I am on some medications that seem to help a bit then I have another one. I am off sick because I could do my shift then make myself ill re thinking every little decision. I want to get better I am scared of the effect the diagnosis will have on my career but I had to seek help I am at the start of my journey your blog is helping thank you. x
Hello Julie,
i live in Greece,Athens and i ve been looking for a long in the net for help.Obviously people in Greece think that people with mental health problems need to be enclosed in a psychiatric clinic or even sent to exile.
I was diagnosed 6 months ago with GDA.Although for the last few years i had symptoms which i would have never connected to GDA or s.th else.I always felt fatigue,slept for endless hours ,cried,etc.My doc said it was anemia and so i took for a more then 2 years iron,which didn t help that much.At that time i was in a relationship (9 years) and the end was coming.And i think that this was the point when GDA came slowly into my life
Now 6 months after the diagnosis,after taking antidepressants and going to psychotherapy i m almost back to ‘normal’.
I feel a bit stigmatized ,bec my ”friends’ think off me as a looney and i hate that.
Before closing my letter and thanking you for your blog and support i wanted to ask you i you have experienced during GDA any psychosomatic symptoms,like dizziness,nausea,no strength in your feet and arms etc
Greetings from sunny Greece
Tina
Hey Julie,
I’m 18 and lost my parents last year, and feel I have GAD ever since. My anxiety is constant and its quite disempowering, in the sense that I lose my confidence and imagine worse case scenarios. I feel sad, insecure and very negative really. I try to help myself by talking to myself, reassuring myself, looking back at positives etc but the theme is more or less recurring. Whenever there’s a breakthrough, there’s also some sort of relapse. The worst part is that it is self induced and there is no medical issue with me, that is pretty sad on my part as it means I can’t take charge of my life properly.
I am thankful that you are letting us in on your journey, and hope to learn from you, and maybe interact with you as well.
Respect and warmth,
Akhilesh