I was initially diagnosed with OCD after having convinced myself I was going to get HIV. I worked in a hospital & actually worked in areas where there would be exposure to blood. I was put on meds, got over the fear. A year later, the same thing, this time just suffered it out. Years later I started to worry about non-health issues. I was diagnosed with GAD,and told it was not OCD. I have been battling this for over 8 years. Different meds, therapy. The meds give me worse side effects. I am able to function, work, take care of my family, enjoy things, but had another worry recently and I am going back to a psychiatrist to see about trying meds again. I am so sick of living my life like this. With GAD, some research says people have an unfocused worry, generally over health, finances, etc. My worries are related to my home, or maybe a car, that something disastrous will happen. It is a very specific worry. I think of every imaginable scenario, and play out in my mind, how would it be fixed, I then worry about not having the money to fix it, or that it just can't be fixed. Even with breathing, and everything I learned to cope, it's like the fear takes over me, and I have no control. I am very scared. Then it lets up slowly. Sometimes the very specific fear will go away, and I will find a new one, or the same fear will re-surface. I do not have compulsions, other than I must worry and replay the scenarios over and over. One night, I actually wa s dreaming all night of the fear, and could not tell when I was awake or asleep. This is much worse in winter, and in the summer, I have better control over it. Because my what if can happen, and perhaps if there is some truth to some of them, it is so hard for me. Most people with GAD fear health issues, or financial issues, but not such specific fears such as I have. I think I have a mix of GAD and OCD. When I am over my specific fear, I look back, I can say I was irrational, I have a problem, but in the back of my mind, still think, this can happen. I am so tired of this.

The most important thing is, the approach to GAD vs. OCD. With GAD, they tell me to try and stop the thought, with OCD, don't they tell you to just let it pass? Can you imagine for the last 8 years I am trying to stop , and maybe I should just let it work itself out. But how do you just let the thought pass when you are worried your home will catch on fire because there could be a mouse that chewed a wire behind a wall, and you can't see behind that wall to prove yourself wrong? This is a perfect example of something I may worry about.

I have a sibling who has a similiar problem, and my mother as well. please help. Thank you : )