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With this illness I experience excessive anxiety and worry. I feel apprehensive all the time. It is really bad when I am waiting for something like a repair man or the time to go out. The worry I feel is out of proportion to the actual event.
It used to occur once in a while but now it is constant. It nows encompasses every situtaion of my life. I really find it almost impossible to control the worry. I worry excessively about everyday, routine life circumstances such as" I worry excessively about important things like my finances. But even minor matters such as household chores, car repairs, or being late for appointments, can make me so anxious.
I can talk to myself when I am completed stressed and reassure myself, but, it does nothing to make it go away. Just helps me get on with whatever the task is at hand.
I get very restlessness and feel really keyed up when i have to go out. I am soooo on edge. The stress of the anxiety makes me get fatigued. This also causes me to have difficulty concentrating. Quite often my mind gives up and goes blank.
I get very irritable over small things. My muscles get very tense and I am always having to stretch to relieve them. My sleep is completely disturbed. I have difficulty falling asleep and staying that way. I have major trouble getting a good quality, restful sleep.
The focus of my anxiety is not just confined to the features of my other disorders. It has a life of its own and it operates a little differently. It does share common aspects with my other illnesses.
The anxiety causes me significant distress or impairment in many areas of "normal" functioning in social and in the old days - on the job.
Tied in with my other illnesses it is a devastating addition to my list.
DSM-IV Definition
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
B. The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children.
restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
being easily fatigued
difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
irritability
muscle tension
sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)
D. The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a Panic Attack (as in a Panic Disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in Social Phobia), being contaminated (as in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in Anorexia Nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in Somatization Disorder), or having a serious illness (as in Hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
E. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
