Dear Dr. Garner,
I am writing to you out of desperation. My life is a mess. About two years ago, my husband had a bad heart attack on the street, and it was more than 12 hours that I did not know his whereabouts.

Every time he comes home a little late, I imagine he is lying in the street somewhere.

This is only part of it. My life is consumed with worries.  I cannot control my mind. I know my fears are not logical, but the thoughts bother me.

In addition, I can never be happy. I believe that when something good happens to our family, that something bad is just around the corner, particularly if I only think happy thoughts.

My doctor told me to exercise and eat better, but this has not changed things one bit.

I have stomach aches, my heart constantly pounds, and I have pretty much become a shut-in. What should I do?

Worrying in Williamsburg

Dear Worrying,

I am so sorry to hear of your problems. You are definitely not alone in experiencing this condition, as more than four million Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.

I was just talking to loyal Tablet readers and friends, Joyce Pisciotta and Vivian Boolbol about this.

As you noted, you are well aware that your thoughts are not logical, but you obsess about them anyway.

The good news is that treatment for this condition is very successful.  It consists of a combination of therapies in which you talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist, and combine this with medications that help your brain restore a normal chemical balance.

It is normal to feel anxious from time to time, as everyone has stress in  life. The problem arises when the anxiety becomes overbearing and you cannot function properly.

The Christmas season, while joyous, can often be an anxiety provoking time, particularly as people get wrapped up in the present giving and financial stress that often accompanies it.

When stress interferes within everyday activities it becomes very serious. Not only can it interfere with your lifestyle, but it is also associated with serious medical problems that can cut your life short.

How can one tell that he or she has generalized anxiety disorder? One must have continual worry for at least sixmonths, and answer yes to five of the following seven questions.
1. Do you have difficulty controlling your worries?
2. Do you have difficulty concentrating?
3. Are you angered easily, and frequently irritable?
4. Do you sometimes feel like you might throw up when you are worried?
5. Do you have headaches and other aches and pains that have no cause?
6. Do you sweat/have hot flashes?
7. Does your worrying interfere with your job or school?

Of course, it is important to see your doctor to make the correct diagnosis, but answering yes to any of the five questions above is a strong indication that you have a serious problem.

Generalized anxiety disorder may be inherited and can occur in children as well as adults. In children, the anxiety may be due to fear of a nuclear war, terrorist acts or never seeing their parents again. Children with generalized anxiety disorder have difficulty fitting in with peers. The child may be a perfectionist who requires excessive reassurance and approval. He may be excessively critical of himself or have a fear of failure.

All children have worries, but it   becomes a problem when they cannot function properly due to these anxieties. Visit a family doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

I can’t believe that this is the last Ask the Doctor column for 2011. The year ended with a bang for my wife and me with the birth of our second grandchild, Samuel Hudson Stephens, who was born Dec. 10, and weighed in at eight pounds, seven ounces.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a 2012 filled with joy, good health and happiness.[hr] Dr. Steven Garner is a Fidelis Care provider who is affiliated with New York Methodist Hospital, Park Slope. He also hosts “Ask the Doctor” on The NET, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Channel 97 Time Warner and Channel 30 Cablevision.