Upon further questioning, the patient acknowledges that
she is a “worry wort” and has been this way as long as she
can remember. She often worries about her family, school,
and finances and fears that one day she will get mugged or
have a car wreck.
She complains that she is constantly on edge and has a
very difficult time not worrying about things. She says she
tends to worry about insignificant things and often tries to
anticipate the outcome of events: “I can’t turn my mind off.
Even when there’s nothing to worry about, I’ll find something.” The worrying makes it difficult for her to focus on
her school work. She says her mind frequently goes blank and she feels like she is not retaining her study materials.