Anxiety is an extremely common mental disorder, yet we still don’t talk about it as much as we should. Many people tend to act as if anxiety disorders don’t really exist, causing people with the illness to be afraid to speak up when they’re struggling.
The stigma that surrounds this disorder can make sufferers feel confused and alone. If you’re struggling with symptoms of anxiety, you may think that you’re just going insane. I’m here to tell you once and for all that having anxiety does not mean that you’re crazy.
That First Horrible Feeling
You’ve begun to notice that you’re feeling a bit weird lately. Although you can’t quite pinpoint it, you know for sure that you feel off. You’re worried, shaky, self-conscious, and generally feeling unwell.
The problem now is that you know that you’re acting differently because of how you feel. You begin to worry that the people around you will notice and think that you’ve lost it. Thus, begins the vicious cycle of feeling anxious, followed by being stressed about your anxiety, followed by more anxiety because of it.
If you begin to stress about your symptoms and think that you’ve gone insane, you’ll end up having even worse symptoms because of it. Understanding your feelings and accepting that they’re valid is an important step in overcoming them.
The Facts
Anxiety can make you feel isolated. You think that you’re alone in your illness, that no one understands. This, however, is untrue. There are a lot of people throughout the world who suffer from the same symptoms or condition that you do.
In the US, over 18% of adults suffer from an anxiety disorder. It can affect anyone, at any age, and for any reason. Anxiety does not discriminate, it doesn’t care who you are or where you come from. It will strike at any time without warning.
With so many people suffering from this affliction, you have to wonder just how many feel the exact same way that you do. It’s only logical that a huge chunk of them would feel like they’re crazy and perhaps even be afraid of their illness.
Reaching Out
We constantly hear how important it is to talk to someone when we’re not feeling our best. At this point, we’ve heard it so much that we’ve probably stopped listening to it. It may be drawn out but reaching out to someone really is important.
When you have anxiety, you’re still self-aware. You know that your feelings are irrational and you’re afraid that if someone were to see inside your head, they’d put you in a straight jacket.
Remember though that those who love you simply want to help. It’s true, not everyone will understand your feelings at first. Maybe they will think that you’re “crazy” but that’s just because they don’t understand what anxiety really is. With time, they will learn. In any case, always try to look for the support of those you love and of a professional to help.
Although it’s normal to feel nervous or anxious sometimes, it becomes a problem when it starts to take over your everyday life. That’s not to say though that you’re not normal. Having anxiety doesn’t mean that you’re any less normal than everyone else is, you just need a little extra help to overcome these feelings.
Anxiety does not make you any less of a person. With support, you can beat this disorder. You are strong enough, and remember that you are not crazy.
