I've had anxiety all my life, though meds have helped. I managed to wean myself off benzos a few months ago, and now only take them if I'm doing something that produces a lot of anxiety, like flying. So far I've done well. I once asked my pdoc if he thought I had GAD, but he said the anxiety was just part of my bipolar.

I've noticed that my anxiety has improved a great deal since I haven't been working.