Quote Originally Posted by Coelho
Was there any recent change in your life that could account for this?
No, not that I can think of. I've had GAD since I was 16, but this is a sudden recurrence that rivals any other anxiety I've had in severity. I can't sleep, eat, concentrate, all day is just anxiety, all I feel is that stomach tightness, and adrenaline rushes through my limbs. I want to just jump out of my skin, it's so bad.

Mr. C-
Aromatherapy has been part of my regime for a while now, I use lavender and sandalwood for sleep, citrus and ginger to help me wake up, and I drink a good amount of chamomile. It had helped me some in the past, but absolutely nothing helps it now. I want to stay away from meds as much as humanly possible. I want to find out what the cause of my anxiety is, it's not genetic. I have a very safe home, and a family which is supportive enough.

When I talked to the psychiatrist, he initially asked me how anxious I was feeling, on a scale of 1-10, 10 is the most. I answered 7-8, and he had a shocked look on his face. I had been sitting there, cool as a cucumber, no fidgeting, no tapping, nothing. I've been told by many that I am extremely good at hiding my emotions, simply because I know that anxiety is looked down upon, and I work with nurses whose primary response to a psych case, even mild is "Oh great, here comes another crazy..."

The only marked emotion I've shown was during a few panic attacks I've had recently. I was alone, but I was physically trembling, heart POUNDING, crying, all kinds of awful thoughts running through my head. I just feel like I'm out of options. I want my life back.