The Truth About Anxiety
Anxiety manifests itself in different ways: it can be intense nervousness or blind panic. It may make life a little uncomfortable or it can take over your entire existence. It can also be anything in between.
I have panic disorder, an extreme manifestation of anxiety. I have anxiety reactions that vary in intensity anywhere from very mild to blind panic. It affects most areas of my life, and can trigger my PTSD, possibly resulting in flashbacks.
Anxiety can be butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms, fast heartbeat. It can be fast breathing, racing heart, intrusive ruminating thoughts. It can be the desire to hide in the corner where no one is looking. It can feel like a heart attack, a crushing sensation in the chest with difficulty breathing. It can feel like death is imminent, from a source known or unknown.
It can look calm on the outside, but panic on the inside.
Anxiety manifests itself in many ways in me. Interrupting my sleep, interrupting my concentration, making normal thought difficult or impossible, or developing into a full-blown panic attack.
Anxiety can be lying awake until 2 a.m. thinking about things that happened over 10 years ago, worrying about people's reactions that they probably don't even remember.
Anxiety can be sweaty palms, rapid breathing, and racing heart when meeting a group of people or going to a party.
Anxiety can be dizziness, nausea, weakness, shaking hands, and feeling like I'm going to faint before speaking to a group of people.
Anxiety in childhood can be an inability to approach other children for the first time. I changed schools a lot as a child, and I remember standing at the edge of the playground watching other children play, hoping that someone would come talk to me because I was terrified to talk to someone on my own. Sweaty palms, racing heart, rapid breathing, and terrible sadness that I now recognize as embarrassment about being the new kid. I always eventually made friends, but it was very difficult.
Anxiety can be feeling like someone is choking me and I can't breathe.
Anxiety can be feeling like I'm really going crazy this time and I'm going to get locked up in a mental institution forever.
Anxiety can be a harmless practical joke turning into crying in the bathroom because of the terror of people laughing at my embarrassment.
Anxiety can be a wallflower, silent and lonely, but terrified to talk to anyone and hoping someone will notice me.
Anxiety can be never truly opening up to anyone for fear of judgment. The only person I've ever been truly open and honest with is my husband. I let myself be all of me around him because I trust him completely. No judgment, just love, so all the weird and crazy bursts forth, and he laughs with me, not at me.
Anxiety can be screaming and crying inside while putting on a calm, cheerful face, pretending to be normal and pulled together.
Anxiety can result in hatred of the self and punishment in various ways, usually by negative self-talk: insults and put-downs aimed at oneself in moments of frustration.
Anxiety can be alleviated by others, or worsened. Don't ever say, "There's nothing to be scared of." Anxiety is irrational most of the time. I know this. Don't ever say, "Just calm down, you're being overly dramatic." Minimizing it makes it worse. Validation about how they feel is the best thing you can do for an anxious person. "I understand that you're nervous," is sometimes all it takes. Sometimes a good old, "Please explain to me why you are feeling so anxious. Maybe I can help." A simple hug or holding their hand may be the best medicine.
Anxiety is serious and can destroy someone's life if left unchecked. It should be treated seriously and thoroughly. It is easily treated with medication and/or therapy, and doesn't have to control daily life. I got help, many years of it, and I can now live with my anxiety and panic without being controlled by it. And it's a wonderful feeling.
I have panic disorder, an extreme manifestation of anxiety. I have anxiety reactions that vary in intensity anywhere from very mild to blind panic. It affects most areas of my life, and can trigger my PTSD, possibly resulting in flashbacks.
Anxiety can be butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms, fast heartbeat. It can be fast breathing, racing heart, intrusive ruminating thoughts. It can be the desire to hide in the corner where no one is looking. It can feel like a heart attack, a crushing sensation in the chest with difficulty breathing. It can feel like death is imminent, from a source known or unknown.
It can look calm on the outside, but panic on the inside.
Anxiety manifests itself in many ways in me. Interrupting my sleep, interrupting my concentration, making normal thought difficult or impossible, or developing into a full-blown panic attack.
Anxiety can be lying awake until 2 a.m. thinking about things that happened over 10 years ago, worrying about people's reactions that they probably don't even remember.
Anxiety can be sweaty palms, rapid breathing, and racing heart when meeting a group of people or going to a party.
Anxiety can be dizziness, nausea, weakness, shaking hands, and feeling like I'm going to faint before speaking to a group of people.
Anxiety in childhood can be an inability to approach other children for the first time. I changed schools a lot as a child, and I remember standing at the edge of the playground watching other children play, hoping that someone would come talk to me because I was terrified to talk to someone on my own. Sweaty palms, racing heart, rapid breathing, and terrible sadness that I now recognize as embarrassment about being the new kid. I always eventually made friends, but it was very difficult.
Anxiety can be feeling like someone is choking me and I can't breathe.
Anxiety can be feeling like I'm really going crazy this time and I'm going to get locked up in a mental institution forever.
Anxiety can be a harmless practical joke turning into crying in the bathroom because of the terror of people laughing at my embarrassment.
Anxiety can be a wallflower, silent and lonely, but terrified to talk to anyone and hoping someone will notice me.
Anxiety can be never truly opening up to anyone for fear of judgment. The only person I've ever been truly open and honest with is my husband. I let myself be all of me around him because I trust him completely. No judgment, just love, so all the weird and crazy bursts forth, and he laughs with me, not at me.
Anxiety can be screaming and crying inside while putting on a calm, cheerful face, pretending to be normal and pulled together.
Anxiety can result in hatred of the self and punishment in various ways, usually by negative self-talk: insults and put-downs aimed at oneself in moments of frustration.
Anxiety can be alleviated by others, or worsened. Don't ever say, "There's nothing to be scared of." Anxiety is irrational most of the time. I know this. Don't ever say, "Just calm down, you're being overly dramatic." Minimizing it makes it worse. Validation about how they feel is the best thing you can do for an anxious person. "I understand that you're nervous," is sometimes all it takes. Sometimes a good old, "Please explain to me why you are feeling so anxious. Maybe I can help." A simple hug or holding their hand may be the best medicine.
Anxiety is serious and can destroy someone's life if left unchecked. It should be treated seriously and thoroughly. It is easily treated with medication and/or therapy, and doesn't have to control daily life. I got help, many years of it, and I can now live with my anxiety and panic without being controlled by it. And it's a wonderful feeling.
"Panic Definition Magnifier" by Stuart Miles
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