Sheltered (h.s)

t h r e e

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent  and excessive worry about a number of different things. People with GAD may anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. Individuals with GAD find it difficult to control their worry. They may worry more than seems warranted about actual events or may expect the worst even when there is no apparent reason for concern.

GAD is diagnosed when a person finds it difficult to control worry on more days than not for at least six months and has three or more symptoms. This differentiates GAD from worry that may be specific to a set stressor or for a more limited period of time.

Sometimes just the thought of getting through the day produces anxiety. People with GAD don't know how to stop the worry cycle and feel it is beyond their control, even though they usually realize that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants. All anxiety disorders may relate to a difficulty tolerating uncertainty and therefore many people with GAD try to plan or control situations. Many people believe worry prevents bad things from happening so they view it is risky to give up worry. At times, people can struggle with physical symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches.

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I bite my lip and look at harry, not answering his question.

"Sorry.. uh..My mother needs me now." I come up with an excuse to leave the room.

As I walk past Harry, his hand grabs my wrist and holds me in place. I turn to look at him, a bit annoyed.

"What?" I bark quietly. He smiles and shakes his head a bit, releasing my wrist from his grip. I pull my arm towards myself as soon as he loosens his grip.

"Oh, Nothing."

When I look back at him, the grin on his face is still present, and he seems a bit amused by the situation. I roll my eyes and turn away, walking from the room, as I walk through the doorway, I pass Anne. I assume she's going to get Harry, so her and her family can leave. A few minutes later when she walks out of the kitchen with him trailing behind her, I realise that my assumption was correct.

"I really hate to leave so quickly, But it's getting late." Anne says and my mother nods politely and smiles at her.

"Alright, call me if you need anything."

My eyes travel to the front door and I see my father and Ken having a similar conversation before saying their goodbyes. Harry walks past me, Nodding at me. "I'll see you El." He smiles sweetly, then turns to my father and shakes his hand, smiling politely at him before following his father and mother out.

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My alarm blares in my room, causing me to shift over and grab my phone. I unlock it and the horrid beeping stops. I sit up, resting my head against the headboard while rubbing my eyes softly. I sit for a few moments an enjoy the silence, almost falling back asleep until my phone alarm goes off again in my hand.

I grunt and turn the alarm off, tossing my legs lazily of the side of the bed to stand. I walk over to my dresser and slip a gray sweater on over my t-shirt and a pair of leggings. When I decide that I should probably eat something, I go down to the living room to be met with my parents, My father in a suit and my mother in a deep blue dress that stops a few inches above her knee. It seems a bit weird to me that their so dressed up, It's Saturday, so neither of them have work, and my father said they didn't have plans this weekend.

"Oh, Elizabeth, Aren't you going to get ready? I mean at least so you look presentable?" my mother says, looking at me.

"To eat breakfast?" I give her a questioning look and cross my arms over my chest.