E-gad!

Generalized Anxiety Disorder has similar symptoms as panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder, but they are all different conditions. Symptoms of GAD vary from individual to individual, and may include:  persistent worrying or obsession about concerns out of proportion to the impact of the event; inability to let go of worry, or set worry aside; restlessness; difficulty concentrating, or experiencing the feeling of going blank; worrying about excessive worrying; distress, or fear of making the wrong decision; over analyzing, and carrying every option in a situation all the way out it to its possible negative outcome; difficulty handling indecisiveness, or uncertainty.

Physical symptoms may include:  headaches; nausea, and/or irritable bowel syndrome; sweating; trouble sleeping; muscle tension, and muscle aches; fatigue; irritability; being easily startled; feeling twitchy/trembling.

Some symptoms in children and teens may include:  redoing tasks because they are not perfect the first time; lack of confidence; overly anxious about fitting in; spending an excessive amount of time on homework; being a perfectionist; striving for approval; requiring constant reassurance of performance.

Risk factors for developing GAD include:  being female; genetics; personality–a person who is timid, or has a negative temperament may be more prone to GAD than others.

My daughter was born talking. She has always been sunny and open to the kids who didn’t fit in. She is creative in her artwork, and writing. God, her writing is phenomenal. She was reading in kindergarten (the first in her class). Her memorization skills are killer. And she is wise. As a mother of an exceptional child, there isn’t anything for me to complain about–save the GAD. My girl is an Empath. Couple that with GAD, and you have a brilliant, beautiful soul in so much mental/emotional pain it nearly literally breaks her heart, and mine.

My daughter is so amazing, I wish the whole world knew her. I wish the whole world could hear her laughter–its healing, harmonious, just fucking gorgeous.

I believe we are now on a path toward healing–relief. That’s all I want, for my girl to feel relief. I would trade every facet of my being for her pain if it meant she would be well, always.

To parents, and to my readers who are the loved ones to those who suffer, I feel you. Believe me, I feel you. Don’t stop loving, fighting, advocating.

I wish you all love and peace.