What Type Of Anxiety Condition Have I Got?

Just curious is it, Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, GAD?

I’m a psychologist, and I would tend to say you have Generalized/Global Anxiety Disorder, not Social Anxiety Disorder and not Agoraphobia.

Social Anxiety Disorder is a fear of all social situations. The main persisent fear revolved around the fear that you are being evaluated by others. This definitely doesn’t sound like what you have, since you’re fine at work. And work is where people tend to feel the most evaluated, because it is a job and they actually are being evaluated often. This doesn’t seem like Social Anxiety Disorder.

Agoraphobia is a fear of leaving the house. These people tend to fear that something horrible will happen if they leave the house- like they will die, their wife will leave, etc. You’re fine to leave the house for work, and you mentioned no symptoms like that, so I do not think this is Agoraphobia.

It does sound like you may have Generalized/Global Anxiety Disorder. GAD is a fear surrounding everyday activities- such as shopping or riding in the car. There is often no rhyme or reason behind the activities, and it can make you anxious, edgy, irritable, and quick to lash out at others, like your wife. I’ve witnessed it quite often, and this does resemble it, although I have not heard your entire story. Here are the DSM-IV symptoms of GAD.

1. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least six months, about a number of events or activities (such as school or shopping).
2. The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
3. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children.
1. restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
2. being easily fatigued
3. irritability
4. muscle tension
5. sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)
6. difficulty concentrating or the mind going blank
4. The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a panic attack (as in panic disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in social phobia), being contaminated (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in anorexia nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in somatization disorder), or having a serious illness (as in hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during posttraumatic stress disorder.
5. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
6. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

A new test has recently been introduced called the GAD-7 Screening Test which has a high rate of accuracy in screening for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It is a self-administered test that screens for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. These figures suggest that the 5% prevalence for GAD may be too low and that up to 20% of people may have GAD. Talk to your local psychologist about taking this test, as it sounds like you may indeed have GAD, if you have several of these syptoms.

GAD has a good prognosis outlook with therapy, and if you have GAD you should begin Cognitive Behavioral Therapy immediately. It has great results. Additionally, if this is what you are going through, I would suggest that you and your wife enter Couple’s Therapy. Not because you are having marital problems, but to help her understand your disorder. Good luck! Ask me for more details if you want!

P.S. From my experience, this does NOT sound like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder AT ALL. In order to be diagnosed with PTSD, a person has to have had a life threatening experience as well as flashbacks and/or nightmares. This doesn’t resemble PTSD at all. Don’t post if you aren’t educated on the subject material, please! It wastes everyone’s time.

P.P.S. NEVER talk to your general practitioner doctor about psychological issues. You need to see a psychologist for psychological issues. That’s like seeing a dentist for a broken ankle. A GP will not be able to diagnose you properly, and I’ve seen patients with social anxiety disorder diagnosed as schizophrenic by their GPs. I’ve seen patients who just had a family member die diagnosed as depressed (every psychologist knows that you automatically cannot diagnose a person whose family member just died with depression, because they are more likely to be depressed over the death, not clinically depressed). These people were needlessly put on dangerous, addictive, inaccurate, and unnecessary psychiatric medications because the GP just don’t know any better. GPs are NOT psychologists or psychiatrists, and they are not trained in the same way AT ALL. Call your health care provider and ask them to refer you to a local psychologist or psychiatrist.

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