I've been diagnosed with all sorts of stuff: depression, social anxiety, bipolar maybe - with hints that I might have avoidant and/or borderline personality disorder. I also have occasional panic attacks and I'm a total hypochondriac. Basically a full-fledged neurotic with lots of anxiety and depression. Pick your diagnosis, it'll probably work, and I won't argue.

But one diagnosis did kind of mystify me: generalized anxiety disorder. Not that I'm surprised to have generalized anxiety. But because of why. When asked if I worry a lot, I said: all the time. About what? Everything. For how long? Always.

I was surprised when the doctor said that's a disorder. And I should have followed up, but I didn't so I'm asking here. Doesn't everyone worry all the time about tons of different things? I'd assumed that was completely normal. I still think it's normal. I mean, I understand that I'm abnormally pessimistic, anxious and moody. But worrying is human nature, isn't it? Are there periods where you're NOT worrying about something?