Do you feel like I do??

Hi, I am a 25 yr. old mother of 2, just yesterday I went to a psychologist for the first time and was given the GAD diagnosis. I feel like a pretty happy person overall, but have always dwelled on things. I don't have a fear of talking to people, but whenever I do I find myself analyzing a simple conversation over and over and wondering if I said the wrong things, and sounded stupid or weird. So sometimes I just avoid saying anything at all. I also worry about everyday thing like keeping the house clean and find myself feeling overwhelmed easily, and then getting cranky towards my family. I wake up and night and can't get back to sleep for hours because I can't stop thinking and I've never been able to sleep in late. I also find that say, when I'm in the grocery store and me and another person are the only ones in the aisle and have to pass each other I don't know where to look, should I look at them or pretend to be looking at the groceries, it's just simple basic things like this that I feel anxiety about probably things that don't cross most peoples mind. I never knew it was a problem to constantly be thinking about things like this until yesterday's diagnosis, but now it just all makes sense, and I feel relieved just knowing that I'll be getting treatment and may get better. Just wondering if anyone else shares some of my symptoms.

It sounds like GAD to me, but possibly with some other symptoms. Many personality disorders have crossovers in terms of symptoms - it could be a little paranoia, social phobia or other traits mixed in there. You don't even have to have them all the time. I function exceptionally well sometimes and all of these symptoms subside, but have noticed when feeling depressed, stressed or overwhelmed all of these various symptoms appear at once and more intensely than usual. Read about various personality disorders - it may not be that you have them, but you may recognize some symptoms you are experiencing and it will help you to understand yourself a little better, which is the first step. I have found that in years of trying to figure out what is really wrong with me I have made far more progress than any psychiatrist who spends 15 minutes talking with me and just wants to prescribe drugs to remedy all my problems.

Absolutely. The only thing that differs is that I toss and turn all night, but don't wake up for hours, and I can sleep in. I can sleep all day and all night and not feel rested at all. Sleep for me is never satisfying, and I'm always trying to get some...I too am 25, mother of one. And I totally get the whole grocery store thing. I also never realized that it's not healthy to always be thinking and going over my mental "to do" list. I thought that's just how people were. I could never understand why people didn't work as quickly as I did, or felt the need to get things done here and now; my boyfriend and I are always bickering because he doesn't do things at my speed and it infuriates me. But I now realize it's my problem, not his.