The document details the experience of L.A. Nicholson with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It describes her descent into GAD following her mother's death and husband's job loss. Medication provided initial relief but her anxiety worsened after divorcing, losing her dog, and a medical scare. She attempted suicide and was hospitalized. After stabilizing on her original medication, Nicholson worked to regain her health and relationships. With treatment, she recovered from GAD and gained a career advocating for mental health.

1. By Jessie Law
Period 4 5/14/13

2. Symptoms:
o Excessive, ongoing worry and tension
o An unrealistic view of problems
o Restlessness or a feeling of being "edgy"
o Irritability
o Muscle tension
o Headaches
o Sweating
o Difficulty concentrating
o Nausea
o The need to go to the bathroom frequently
o Tiredness
o Trouble falling or staying asleep
o Trembling
o Being easily startled

3. What Doesn't Kill Us: My Battle With Generalized Anxiety Disorder
“It was a long process with many setbacks. But as I worked with a counselor and psychiatrist and
slowly began to recoup my strength, I became very determined to get my life back.”
by L.A. Nicholson
My descent into GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) began the morning I received the call bringing
the news of my mother's accidental death. It was the same week that my husband was laid off. We
had moved across the country for his new job, and eight months later he was laid off. After only two months out
West, we moved back, and I had a nervous breakdown.
The move back East did not cure my anxiety, but when I was put on an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)
three months later, I made a quick and complete turnaround. I thought I was home free. But the following year my
17-year marriage fell apart, and my husband moved out. I stayed on my medication and landed on my feet. I did so
well I eventually decided to taper off my medicine.
GAD Returns Worse Than Before
Four months later, I signed my final divorce papers, had to put my 13-year-old dog to sleep, and had a medical scare
with a frightening test procedure all in the same week. And I redeveloped GAD very fast. It was worse this time, and
going back on the medicine did not provide the same rapid cure.
After three months of utter misery and many different combinations of medications, I tried to end my pain with an
overdose. Two weeks after that, I made a violent suicide attempt. I ended up in the hospital: ICU for three weeks and
the psychiatric ward for three more. When I was released, I weighed 93 pounds on my 5'7" frame.
While I was in a haze of morphine and pneumonia, the doctors had stabilized me once again on my original
medication and dose. When I came to, I was no longer anxious. But I was overwhelmed by the tasks before me:
reclaiming my health, repairing my relationships, regaining my family’s trust. It was a long process with many
setbacks. But as I worked with a counselor and psychiatrist and slowly began to recoup my strength, I became very
determined to “get my life back,” as I wrote in my journal.
I Got My Life Back
With the help of health professionals and my family and friends, as well as staying on my medication, I not only got
my life back, I gained a second career as an advocate for the mentally ill. I now work full time, raise my son, own my
own home, and volunteer as an “In Our Own Voice” presenter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI). At one presentation, I was honored to thank personally the two paramedics who saved my life on the day
of my suicide attempt. They didn’t know that I had lived. I have also written a book chronicling my illness and
recovery and what I have learned about mental disorders. My aim now is to give those suffering from anxiety hope
and to prevent them from doing what I did. I firmly believe that if I can feel better, anyone can.
L.A. Nicholson, a certified presenter for the NAMI "In Our Own Voice" program, has written What Doesn't Kill Us: My
Battle With Anxiety (CreateSpace: November 5, 2011).

4. Medications:
o Antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and
venlafaxine (Effexor).
o Buspirone
o Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium),
chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and alprazolam (Xanax).
Psychotherapy:
o Also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling involves working
out underlying life stresses and concerns and focuses on making behavior
changes. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common types
of psychotherapy for GAD. It focuses on teaching you specific skills to
identify your negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them with
positive ones. Even if an undesirable situation doesn't change, you can
reduce stress and gain more control over your life by changing the way
you respond.

5. o http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/generalized-anxiety-
disorder/DS00502/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
o http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-
disorder-gad
o http://www.helpguide.org/mental/generalized_anxiety_disorder.htm

6. o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaYTkKK010Q