I saw one of my favorite therapists (of which there have been many), Heather, for two years. Each and every time I saw her, because I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, she gave me a seven-point assessment test called the GAD-7. These are the statements it included:
| Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge? | Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day |
| Not being able to stop or control worrying? | Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day |
| Worrying too much about different things? | Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day |
| Trouble relaxing? | Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day |
| Being so restless that it is hard to sit still? | Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day |
| Becoming easily annoyed or irritable? | Not at all Several days More than half the days Nearly every day |
| Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen? |
I didn’t know it at the time, but of course now I know. It’s scored 0-3, where “not at all=0, several days =1, more than half the days=2 and nearly every day=3. So, like, the higher you score, the more challenges you are facing.
In the beginning, when I first took the GAD-7s, I fudged my answers. I didn’t know it was for my benefit, and that the more candid I was, the better Heather was able to help me. But the weirdest thing about GAD, for me? How often it comes from out of nowhere, BAM!
I can be in a safe place, with safe people, feeling somewhat relaxed, and suddenly I feel my heart start to pound, I begin to perspire, and my hands tremble. I get that urge to flee, which is what usually happens when I get too anxious. But the worst part? There’s absolutely. No. Reason. Why. I’m. Anxious. I just know that I am, and I have to go about calming myself.
That’s GAD, in a nutshell.
Cheers to an anxiety-less day!
Peace out.
Recovery Along Route 66 