Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD can occur with excessive, unrealistic worry over a long period of time. The anxiety may focus on issues such as health, marriage, money, career or any of the other worries the modern world can present us with. In addition to chronic worry, GAD symptoms include trembling, muscular aches, insomnia, depression, feelings of unreality and irritability.

Generalized anxiety usually does not cause people to avoid situations to the extent that people suffer who from panic disorders do. It’s the constant thinking, the constant dwelling on oneself day in day out, and the inability to shut the mind off that so incapacitates the person.


Sufferers of Depersonalisation or Derealisation feel divorced from both the world and from their own body. Often people who experience depersonalisation claim that life "feels like a dream", things seem unreal, or hazy; some say they feel detached from their own body. Another symptom of this condition can be the constant worrying or strange thoughts that people find hard to switch off.

People often say that no matter how hard they try, they don't feel like they can interact with the world around them. They feel a sense of detachment from their surroundings, finding it hard to talk and connect with others. Also they feel no love for the people closest to them and even question if they did a certain task or had a particular conversation. The most upsetting thing is they lose a sense of who they are and can't seem to perceive themselves as being normal.

Depersonalisation is a common and understandable offshoot of the anxiety condition. Before going further into depersonalisation, let me clear up one thing that I get asked often. “No, you are not going mad.” This feeling comes from being constantly worried about your own problems, it is not serious or harmful in any way and has a totally logical explanation. It is temporary and, with patience and understanding, eventually passes like any other symptom.

Symptoms of anxiety

Blurred Vision, eye floaters.
Shortness of Breath.
Difficulty swallowing, lump in throat.
Headaches, tight band around head.
Pins and needles feeling in arms and legs.
Feeling dizzy, unbalanced.
Feelings of anxiousness and dread.
Unable to think clearly.
Feeling like you are going crazy.
Emotionless, lack of feeling for anyone or anything. Sometimes
Ringing ears.
Hyperawareness of oneself.
Strange, obsessive thoughts.
Feeling overwhelmed, cannot cope.
Racing heart.

Other symptoms

Lack of sleep.
Difficulty communicating with others.
Lack of sex drive.
Fear of being sick.
Feelings of anxiousness.
Constantly Irritable.
Sweating.
Feelings of depression.
Feeling unreal, detached from the world around you.
Hyperactive, unable to relax.
Lack of energy, constantly tired.
No interest in life. Sometimes
Paranoia about what people think.
Constantly worrying.
Dry mouth.

I think I also saw somewhere that nightmares was a symptom.


Nicole was actually the one who initially looked all this stuff up and told me about it.
Since I started my new diet/exercise regime, I've been feeling a shit ton better, but this explains a lot as far as why I was depressed and crying all of the time. There actually is something wrong with me! With a name! And I can fight it and have been without even knowing it but still realizing all the same.

My worrying all the time makes sense now!