Anxiety disorders are awful illnesses. Anxiety disorders are probably the most common type of mental illness with a large number of disorders with that description including Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Phobias and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
There are many things I have learnt about anxiety since I was diagnosed with it last year. Many of them are things nobody tells you about, or that you don't know unless you suffer from anxiety.
There are many things I have learnt about anxiety since I was diagnosed with it last year. Many of them are things nobody tells you about, or that you don't know unless you suffer from anxiety.
1. It is not just mental
Yes, anxiety disorders are classed as mental illnesses but believe me, the physical symptoms can be worse. MUCH worse. Between constant headaches, muscle tension, shortness of breath, insomnia and the abdominal pain, it's a wonder we manage to get out of bed!
2. The slightest thing can set it off
Many people think that there has to be a big trigger to anxiety, but a lot of the time there isn't. It can be something as simple as not being able to find your car keys that can set off an episode.
For many people, they would think "Oh dear this is a hassle". But for someone with anxiety their mind could be going mad "I'm going to be late for work. What if they fire me? What if I can't find the keys? I'm going to have to get them replaced. How long will that take? Can that even happen? What if someone I know gets taken to hospital but I can't go because I've lost my car keys? What if it's my mum?..." This could go on and on.
For many people, they would think "Oh dear this is a hassle". But for someone with anxiety their mind could be going mad "I'm going to be late for work. What if they fire me? What if I can't find the keys? I'm going to have to get them replaced. How long will that take? Can that even happen? What if someone I know gets taken to hospital but I can't go because I've lost my car keys? What if it's my mum?..." This could go on and on.
3. It is not rational- and we know it
Perhaps one of the most annoying things about anxiety is that we know what we are feeling is irrational, but we can't stop it. For anyone who doesn't have anxiety- the thoughts we tell you is the tip of the iceberg. If you think we are overreacting with what we tell you, imagine what our thoughts are!
One of the reasons that I didn't tell my parents about my diagnosis, and still have issues being open about my struggles with them, is irrational thoughts that come from anxiety. I was, and am, convinced that if I tell them the whole truth they will hate me and turn away from me. Even though I know that my parents love me with all their hearts.
One of the reasons that I didn't tell my parents about my diagnosis, and still have issues being open about my struggles with them, is irrational thoughts that come from anxiety. I was, and am, convinced that if I tell them the whole truth they will hate me and turn away from me. Even though I know that my parents love me with all their hearts.
4. You have good and bad days
And by good, I mean very good and by bad, I mean very bad. There seems to be no middle ground with anxiety (for me anyway). I am either a ball of anxiety, scared of everything and everyone around me, or I am carefree with no fear at all. The good days make the bad days seem even worse. Nothing hurts more than the first bad day after, say, a week of good days. I know it is common but boy it does hurt.
5. The words 'calm down' and 'relax' will bug you
If we could we would. And it actually makes the problem worse. Trying to calm down when feeling intense anxiety amplifies the original feeling of fear.
And seriously it's just annoying.
And seriously it's just annoying.
6. It's closely linked to depression
Such a joy!
So not only do you panic about anything and everything, you also start to feel numb and feel empty. It is awful. People don't usually know that both illnesses are linked. I unfortunately discovered it when I was diagnosed with both.
And not only are they linked. They feed each other. I know with me my anxiety feeds my depression which feeds my anxiety. It is a terrible vicious circle.
So not only do you panic about anything and everything, you also start to feel numb and feel empty. It is awful. People don't usually know that both illnesses are linked. I unfortunately discovered it when I was diagnosed with both.
And not only are they linked. They feed each other. I know with me my anxiety feeds my depression which feeds my anxiety. It is a terrible vicious circle.