Key Takeaways:
- How To Explain Anxiety To People Who Don’t Understand was published by Bustle in May 2016.
- For people with anxiety disorders, an overwhelming sense of stress and fear can strike at any moment. The smallest interactions can trigger a panic attack or onslaught of intrusive thoughts.
- Many of the anxieties and intrusive thoughts that sufferers experience are not based in logic.
Anxiety disorders come in a wide variety of forms. There’s OCD, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, and many more. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, roughly 18% of the population suffers from an anxiety disorder, making it the most common mental condition in the country. Despite the prevalence of anxiety disorders, the general public remains uninformed about them and the different ways they can manifest. This can make opening up to friends and family about your disorder extremely difficult.
Bustle’s May 2016 article How To Explain Anxiety To People Who Don’t Understand highlights five key facts to explain to others when talking about your anxiety. Start by explaining that while anxiety is a natural part of life for most people, for people with anxiety disorders, an overwhelming sense of stress and fear can strike at any moment. The smallest interactions can trigger a panic attack or onslaught of intrusive thoughts. Remind the people around you that your anxiety is not a choice, and that telling someone with an anxiety disorder to “calm down” or “stop worrying” will do nothing to help make them feel better.
Another key point, is that many of the anxieties and intrusive thoughts that sufferers experience are not based in logic. Irrational thoughts and fears can hold a lot of weight, no matter how ridiculous they might seem. Anxiety creates an illusion of irrational and frequent threats from the outside world. Because of this, sufferers are often in a state of heightened awareness. Their fight or flight response is active even when no actual danger is around them. Simple things can feel like threats. This can be hard for people without anxiety to fully understand.
Take time to learn about your anxiety disorder and educate your family and friends. If you are suffering, seek professional help and do not be afraid to open up to others. You are not alone, and there are resources and treatment options that can improve your life.