Hi, welcome :)

I have GAD

Same...i think mine is inherited from mom. All my siblings have it to various degrees. I'm used to coping with it. It's our nervous systems and what our brains tell us. It's who we are. We're in a near constant state of fright and flight. It makes us irritable, because we are focused on listening to our inner voices. We need a lot of alone time to sort through our feelings and thoughts. I use meditation, CBD oils/gummies, occasionally a low dose xanax (my MD understands and knows my rx will last me a really long time - I made her promise to always give my an rx when I asked)*, sounds to help me sleep at night (I have a sleep mask with built in Bluetooth headphones and use a great app called TIDE or another called SLEEP), and put CBD oil under my tongue. I tend to isolate because I'm an introvert as well. The COVID lockdowns haven't bothered me a bit😂 Not be around people, another source of my free floating anxiety? Fine with me!

I think the quarantine made me more of an introvert. I used to be able to go out occasionally but now I can't I don't want to leave the house.. I had it since I was Kid. My parents and family do not understand it. Besides I have Parkinson so that up my anxiety a lot!

Oh, so sorry to hear about the Parkinson's 😥 My husband is an extrovert, so, I have to go out sometimes or it's not fair to him. We've been inside since last Wednesday and today is our movie day, so we went out. I was not feeling well and didn't want to, but anyway we liked the movie (Liam Neeson) and then dinner. We go to matinees, so no crowds. Parents always want their children to be social butterflies. They don't understand we can be happy without being that. I've talked to so many parents worried about their kids (we'll always be their kids no matter our age) and I tell them, your kid is fine he or she is an introvert. They have as many friends as they feel they can handle. They're fine. Stop worrying! Don't isolate *too*. Sometimes we have to push ourselves to be social.

My husband wanted to take me out to dinner for valentines day but he fell asleep. I'd rather eat in anyways. Then I don't have to deal with "people ". I kinda feel like there's a spotlight on me and everyone is staring at me. It's very uncomfortable for me. But for a meal at a restaurant I'll try to go out. But it's right back home after that! Lol My home is like my cave. It's comforting.

Yes, I've always thought of mine as my sanctuary. And I don't have to answer my door or the phone (that was a real revelation when it stuck me that I didn't have to answer a phone just because it is ringing). We do out to eat often and half the time I run through the evening because for some reason, I always think I embarrassed myself somehow. Especially, if I chatted with someone - did I say something stupid? Talked too long? Was the waitress only just being nice to be polite? Did I bore them?😂 I go out more because my husband is an extrovert and loves being around people. He's out right now running errands, not because he needs to but it's an excuse to talk to people. The neighbors barely know I even exist,