I had no idea!

zookeeper , Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  I understand you well  as I was first dx with Anxiety and Depression 30 years ago and to this day I still have not found the perfect way to explain how I can feel fine one day and fall apart the next to my hubby.  I must say he is my support person and I have asked him to not ply me with questions such as, " What is the matter now?".  Boy, if I could answer that question I would have the cure all for anxiety and could help everyone else that suffers from an anxiety disorder. While most people with GAD need psychotherapy or medications to get anxiety under control , lifestyle changes can also make a difference. I would kindly suggest that you make an appointment to see your PCP, have a EKG done and talk with your Dr. re what type of exercise program may be good for you to get started.  Perhaps joining a Swimming class and doing low level water exercises would be a choice for you. Eat a healthy diet and include foods that are heart healthy.  Try meditation to help you reduce your anxiety and keep it out of the "what if?" zone.  Here is a sample: Choose a quiet spot where you will not be disturbed by other people or by the telephone. Sit quietly in a comfortable position. . Eliminate distractions and interruptions during the period you'll be meditating. Commit yourself to a specific length of time and try to stick to it. Pick a focus word or short phrase that's firmly rooted in your personal belief system. A non-religious person might choose a neutral word like one, peace, or love. Others might use the opening words of a favorite prayer from their religion such as 'Hail Mary full of Grace', "I surrender all to you", "Hallelujah", "Om", etc. Close your eyes. This makes it easy to concentrate. Relax your muscles sequentially from head to feet. This helps to break the connection between stressful thoughts and a tense body. Starting with your forehead, become aware of tension as you breathe in. Let go of any obvious tension as you breathe out. Go through the rest of your body in this way, proceeding down through your eyes, jaws, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, upper back, middle back and midriff, lower back, belly, pelvis, buttocks, thighs, calves, and feet. Breathe slowly and naturally, repeating your focus word or phrase silently as you exhale. Assume a passive attitude. Don't worry about how well you're doing. When other thoughts come to mind, simply say, "Oh, well," and gently return to the repetition. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. You may open your eyes to check the time, but do not use an alarm. After you finish: Sit quietly for a minute or so, at first with your eyes closed and later with your eyes open. Do not stand for one or two minutes. Plan for a session once or twice a day. All most everybody worries about what will happen in the future. The prospect of not knowing if something good or bad will happen to you in the near future can produce a lot of fear and anxiety.  Positive self-talk when you’re feeling anxious also counteracts the common tendency to do the opposite: to berate one's self with a barrage of negative statements.    Here is one example I use when my mind wants to wandered into "what if?" thinking - " I will stay in the present moment and notice everything good around me." I hope you continue to stick with us and know that we understand how you feel. Kindly, Kitt