Does anxiety cause worry in addition to worry causing anxiety?

[Zeus]

I notice that whenever I'm starting to feel anxious, for no reason at all, I begin to worry about things.  In other words, the more I get anxious for no apparent reason, the more I find myself starting to worry about things that did not concern me until the anxiety started creeping in.  Also, I find that whenever I'm on a benzo like Ativan and the calming effect that it has on me, I don't worry about things at all until it starts to wear off.

Obviously, worry will bring on anxiety in a person who suffers from GAD or not.  It's only natural.  But does sudden anxiety for no apparent reason, make a person with GAD start to worry about things he/she wasn't worrying about prior to the on-set of the anxiety?

[sixpack]

I wouldn't doubt it.

lots of people wonder which is first the worry or the anxious thinking and the symptoms.  To me it is a chicken and the egg argument.  I also find that it is very circular.  one leads to the other then it goes round and round. 

[MrBBB]

An anxious state of mind and a worrying state of mind go hand in hand. It almost feels like I deliberately find things to worry about when I feel anxious inside. But you have to remember though that worrying is just thoughts crossing your mind.. you have to try and just ignore them as much as possible, keep telling yourself these are irrational thoughts brought on by anxiety.

[ironmary]

For me, I get anxiety about anxiety!  If that makes sense!     So, the more anxious I get, the more my mind turns over and over.  It's just a big circle!  It's not fun, but actually over the last couple of days, I've been able to break the cycle fairly early on in the day.

[Cally539]

Since I've been dealing with GAD/panic disorder, I seem to worry way more than before. I think as someone else mentioned, my anxious mind searches for something to worry about. Usually my worries related to my anxiety. Like, will I ever be normal again, how will this affect the rest of my life, etc. My worries seem to dissipate as my anxiety lessens.

[Zeus]

It is a chicken and the egg thing for sure.  And it's a vicious cycle.  If you're worried then you're anxious, if you're anxious then you worry.  I'm very grateful for medications that help me with this.

[louu]

For me, I get anxiety about anxiety!  If that makes sense!     So, the more anxious I get, the more my mind turns over and over.  It's just a big circle!  It's not fun, but actually over the last couple of days, I've been able to break the cycle fairly early on in the day.

I agree, and I also find that now I'm so much more aware of my anxiety I worry about worrying in that I  know that I sometimes get anxious about doing a certain thing, and then get anxious about the fact that I might get anxious when doing that thing. I often realise after I avoid doing something through fear of feeling anxious that I probably would have been fine and just panic about something which may or may not happen.

I hope that makes sense, it seems complicated to read back and I was the one who wrote it 

[Love2Sk8]

Short answer to your question is 'Yes'.

For me, the anxiety causes me to be less productive than I know I can be. It causes me to take more sick days when I have reactions to changes in medication. It makes me exhausted all the time, so my husband has to do more taking care of the kids than I would like. It makes me admit that I am far from super-woman or super-mom or super-employee.

All of that makes me worry because I'm constantly not good enough. I see other working moms and they seem to have a ton more energy than I do, their houses are cleaner, they don't cancel meetings (at least that I can see), and they do more than their husbands when it comes to the kids.

So the effects of anxiety make me worry about me not being good enough. Can you tell I have perfectionistic tendencies even though I have been far from perfect my whole life?!

Right now, this is the part of anxiety that is kicking my butt the most. I know what I am capable of, and I don't feel I've been able to live up to that for years. My therapist helps me try to put this all in perspective, but it is hard.

Best wishes,
Anna