Pretty Sure I have GAD

Hello. I'm glad I found this forum as my anxiety has lessened a little already just from reading that others have some of the same symptoms I'm dealing with. I'm 28 years old and was fine for most of my life when it came to physical anxiety symptoms. Though I was a loner in high school I never had this horrible feeling of anxiety until a few years ago. And I never thought it was serious until last week when it came on suddenly (I woke up with it) and it has been off and on every day since then with 4 or 5 days of it being almost non-stop. I get all but a few of the symptoms listed in the stickied symptoms thread, and this feeling that is hard to describe. It's like a rushing feeling that last a few seconds. It's almost like fear or something and I feel it in my head and chest and feel like I'm going to pass out.

It used to only happen when I'm in public, especially places like banks, anywhere that there are people behind me standing in line that I feel are looking at me. And the thought or action of actually having to talk to a bank teller or store cashier can cause it. But last week I woke up and felt it and started to worry about it. I worry that I'm going to die. That it could be a disease or something. That I'm going to have a heart attack or brain hemorrhage or who knows what. And these fears keep the anxiety feeling coming and make it worse. I'll lay in bed and try to sleep it off but that's when I start worrying too much and I can never actually get any sleep. If I wake up I can never get back to sleep because I'm worrying about not being able to get back to sleep, which brings on the anxiety.

The only thing that has helped stem the feelings is alcohol. And I know that's "self medicating" and not good for me as I'm drinking way too much but I am afraid that if I seek help in person, like a doctor, I will have a panic attack or something. So I'm hoping this forum will help me get better on my own. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for self-help advice that doesn't include going to a therapist or taking pills, if possible.

Brandon

Brandon, this might not be something you can get over on your own, without the help of a doctor. Maybe you could see if they'll talk to you on the phone first so you can feel more comfortable or ask someone that helps calm you to go with you to the appointment. The sensation you're describing might be a panic attack.
I hope you'll find more advice about how you could help yourself on this forum.