So my therapist just brought up the fact that I might have GAD. We did an informal evaluation, where she read me symptoms and I answered how present they were in my life. She told me at the end of the session that she thought I might have it, but didn’t mention the next step we should take.   


I was pretty scared, as I had never even heard of GAD, and wanted to know more about it. I have done some research, but a lot of articles are pretty general in their explanations (most usually just mention anxiety and call it good). If you have GAD, would you mind explaining it to me what it is, and how it affects you?

Also, I have substance abuse in my  family, and my parents are very against meds to manage anxiety, as they don’t want to create a dependency on them. For those who have taken meds to help manage their GAD, are they generally more addictive? Is or likely for someone with substance abuse in their family to become addicted or dependent on them?

And lastly, for those who have gone a different route, and not taken meds, how has that affected how you manage your anxiety? Do you wish you took meds, or do you think the method you are using is effective?

For those who have read this far, thank you for your time!