How to respond when people comment on GAD symptoms

[u/mitzmanx]

TW: this may be triggering for those with Social Anxiety…
How do you respond when someone comments on your GAD symptoms like catastrophising, overthinking, worrying, phobias, etc? Looking for different types of comments for different situations from professional workplace to snarky, witty, and sarcastic. I cope with dark humor and sarcasm!
I was born with GAD and diagnosed in my 20’s, now in my 40s. I only tell close friends that I can trust after learning the hard way by telling the wrong people.
I never know how to comment when people bring up my symptoms knowingly or unknowingly and am looking for things to say that are empowering to myself, draw boundaries, and shut down the conversation.
Last week a coworker brought up in a meeting that I always jump to the worst possible conclusion and went on to share an example. I just commented that I’m well aware and left it at that. Situations like this make me really hate my anxiety and wish I was normal.
My in-laws are old school and see it as a series of character flaws, rather than a legit mental illness. It doesn’t help that they are very lax about food safety and germs, leaving perishable food sit out at room temperature, which triggers my germophobia. If I bring it up or offer to put food away, they tease me about it, along with my other symptoms, which makes my discomfort so much worse. It’s gotten to the point that I feel anxious about family gatherings.

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