Hurting Questions??????

[Gatorgal]

I have GAD, just diag. this year. I had a really bad 2006. Why? I really don't know. I have gone to several doc's and every single one want's to ask me questions about my childhood and if I was an abused child. Well, the answer is yes, but it really started to annoy me because I knew I was sick and could not see how they were helping me by asking such personal questions. I have seen a heart specialist, because I thaought I was having a heart attack, gastro doc's and now a nurologist. They all say the same thing, GAD. I really believe I have moved past my childhood, forgiven my dad but still deal with anxiety. Could it be possible that abuse from your childhood could effect you as an adult even though you don't think about the past???? I really get tired of it being brought up all of the time.

 

[BelindaP]

Unfortunately, most people with generalized anxiety disorder have had traumatic episodes in their past. Even though they may have dealt with those episodes and moved past them, the emotional scars still remain.

I think that until you find someone with whom you are comfortable, you will have to face the question, because the childhood trauma thing is one of the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. In other words, when diagnosing the disorder, they have to ask that particular question.

There are various treatments out there for GAD. Fortunately, you don't have to rehash the past to do the treatment. (If a therapist says you do, you might want to consider another therapist.) My personal favorite is some form of Rational Emotive Therapy. That's where you confront and try to replace anxious thoughts with more "rational" ones.

I suffered from panic attacks when I was younger and eventually overcame them. I also visited a whole host of different kinds of doctors because I thought I was dying. When I discovered that the problem was anxiety, it was much easier to handle because I had a label for it.

 

[Apromisefulfilled]

I too have been a sufferer of abuse and as a result of which, have a multitude of anxiety disorder and phobias. I have a particularly odd phobia, I don't like to be touched or for people to come too close to me it is not because I am scared I may become infected from them but being a victim of abuse I treasure my personal sace, my comfort zone as it were. Ivery rarly leave my house because I am scared that maybe someone will try to shake my hand come for a hug, things that make me shake at the thought. I, however have come to the conclusion that letting this anxiety and phobia get the better of me. I was reading the bible for reassurance and guidance and the thought came upon me that Jesus himself was persecuted in a sense abused, and he was crucified on the cross for our sins so that we might be welcomed into the kingdom of God. So I have nothing to fear, because if Jesus sacrificed himself to rid all mankind of in then I should trust in him and that he might kee me safe.
As for all these medical folk asking you all these ersonal questions, I will venture to point out that if the questions are too personal and are hurtfull tell them, you are perfectly within your rights, they are trying to help you and if you feel that these questions are dragging things up that you wish not to remember then like I said you are perfectly within your rights to ask them to stop. I recieve what is called Cognative behavioural theray. Where the doctors seek out what makes me think I am in danger and try and alter my thought pattern and behaviour towards that. I won't lie to you it's not an easy task. I refused to leavemy home for 6 months and refused to be near anyone for a long time, I may have lost many a friend and let many an oportunity ass me by but until I was ready to face my past I couldn't change this behaviour.

My abuser was my adoptive mother, I still have nightmares, I still wake up in a cold sweat and I still wake up screaming if the bathroom tap so much as drips because the abuse always happened at night and I learnt to be a very lighyt sleeper.

I know I seem to have rambled but I could only see the same things in you that I saw in myself 6 months ago. The majority of the work I did myself I have had treatment twice and I have had bottles of pills to help me all I needed was the knowledge that if Jesus could be nailed to a cross for crimes he wasn't guilty of then I don't have to live in fear of what may never happen. He died so that we all would be saved and enter the kingdom of heaven, he will be there with all of us to hold our hands in our time of need even if it doesn't seem like he is there at all. Here is something that has helped me throughout all my troubles and brings a smile to my face each time I read it.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was
walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the
sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he
noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one
belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When
the last scene of his life flashed before him, he
looked back at the footprints in the sand. He
noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed
that it happened at the very lowest and saddest
times in his life. This really bothered him and he
questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that
once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all
the way. But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life, there is only one set
of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed
you most you would leave me." The Lord replied,
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I would
never leave you. During your times of trial and
suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it
was then that I Carried You."

I hope this is of some help to you

God bless!

 

[BlessedMommy05]

Hello,
Well this is some thing I am working on myself.. As a baby I was physically abused by whom I dont know and when I was adopted, later in life around maybe 6 or 7yrs old (maybe a lil older) do not know I was sexually abused by my brother..(Long story) so yes I also have axiety and panic attacks at times and often I do my best to not let it get the best of me.. Hard to see the scripture of saying, Forget the past and focus on the prize our Lord Jesus.. But often times forgetting the past is a hard task and not an easy one.. I would also say finding healing is a process not an over night thing.. I had to learn that the hard way.

As far as Dr.'s asking you about abuse in your childhood is probably to ask if there was any to see if what medication can help you deal with what ever you are currently going through. Often times they just want to know, and other times its difficult because it does bring up stuff we'd rather just toss in the trash in our minds. If you are not comfortable with a Dr asking you then just say what you are comfortable in sharing, you dont have to go into details and if they do ask just say can I plze not share that and go on from there. Like the above poster, you do have rights and a Dr knows that. Good luck..

BlessedMommy05

 

[mustang_94]

I have GAD, just diag. this year. I had a really bad 2006. Why? I really don't know. I have gone to several doc's and every single one want's to ask me questions about my childhood and if I was an abused child. Well, the answer is yes, but it really started to annoy me because I knew I was sick and could not see how they were helping me by asking such personal questions. I have seen a heart specialist, because I thaought I was having a heart attack, gastro doc's and now a nurologist. They all say the same thing, GAD. I really believe I have moved past my childhood, forgiven my dad but still deal with anxiety. Could it be possible that abuse from your childhood could effect you as an adult even though you don't think about the past???? I really get tired of it being brought up all of the time.

Hi, My name is Jim and I come from a long line of abusers. I had panic attacks as early as age ten or there abouts. Little was known about all of this at the time. It was years before anyone understood what was going on with me.

My father refused to believe anything about it. Said it was all bull. When he was about sixty-five, he began having them himself. It sure changed his point of view.
It has been my experience that panic attacks do not alway look like some people expect. Some expect a person to express fear. This is not always the case. At times I would have no thought of fear. It would be more a thing of paralizis. Feeling unable to move or unable to speak. I would at times drool.

My Father had the same experience. He would not believe that it was panic attacks until we convinced him to go to a doctor. The doctor told him that he could find no reason for what he described and sent him to the pych. Who, of course, told him what the problem was.
If nothing else, it finally got me a little respect.

We are not thru with the past until we are thru with the past. It seems to me that you have a good attitude about the past, but that doesn't mean that you are thru with it. I have been involved in recovery since 1977. There have been wonderful periods of just getting on with life, in ways that I never could before. But, there would come the day that I had to learn more and do more. There is an ebb and flow to the whole process. God has designed it so. Jesus went to the cross, so that he could bring us before the Father. We all must bear a cross, so that we may bring others before Jesus.

The burden seems lighter when I try to look at it as a calling. My own minstry if you will. As I read the bible, I am reminded that there is no cheap grace. I am a man who could have easily spent my life in prison. When I was younger, I was a very angry man and I came very close too many times.

Take up your cross and join the rest of us as we are being trained thru experience to reach others that we are uniquely able to reach, just by saying, "I have been there friend. And even more important, I know the way out of there."

Well, I did not mean to be so long with this, But, I think God would like you to see this ebb and flow, as something more than just blind chance. I'm thru preaching now. God bless. I came back to add this: There is a book that I have loved, and I hope you will find and read it. The name is "Hinds Feet On High Places." by Hannah Hurnard. The title is from the book of Habakkuk, 3:19

 

[Gatorgal]

I wanted to Thank Everyone that responded. It was all very helpful. Have a great day in the Lord!!

 

[whitedove7]

If you had traumatic events especially when a loved one was suppose to protect you, then fear comes in your life which is the root to anxiety.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

the cure!

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

The problem is the earthly father, gave a bad impression of the heavenly father. So, it is rebuilding trust and trusting the Lrod in a new level. God's love casteth out fear.

 

[uniquetadpole]

I can't tell you the trauma's I have been through....because I can't remember... with trauma at some point comes PTSD Post traumatic Stress Disorder... at some point we can all begin to deal with the effects of the trauma even if one doesn't remember specifics... and sometimes when I think I already have dealt with the issues... I sometimes still have symptoms... they say because I are ready to deal with them at a deeper level... well at least my brain thinks I am ready to handle them... I am still in disagreement with my brain... but the more I argue with it the worse it gets... so I might as well start taking a fresh look at it. I have been in intensive therapy since last April. And I still don't remember stuff. But I sure do have the PTSD symptoms... anxiety is one of those symptoms... and GAD is specific form of anxiety.

 

[UnitynLove]

Praying for you sis!

 

[BigToe]

Anxiety can stay with us long after the memories fade. With traumatic experiences, we often suppress those memories to help us cope. But many of us forget to bring them back and fully deal with them. Still others do seek help dealing with them and the anxiety stays.

If you have a trusted friend, minister, or a therapist to talk things out with it might help. You can open up about your past and perhaps they can offer feedback on what might be the reason you're struggling with the anxiety to the extent you are. It sure isn't fun to deal with alone, and certainly not when it affects your health to the degree it is yours.