24 Things People Want You To Know About Anxiety

Lot’s of people suffer with an anxiety disorder of some kind, yet it is still very misunderstood. Even when you have an anxiety disorder yourself it can be confusing, so it’s understandable why there are lots of misconceptions about anxiety. I asked the members of a blogging group what they would like people to know about anxiety and here are there responses:

I wish people knew that you don’t to look like something is wrong when you are experiencing anxiety. I’ve gotten really good a faking a smile. – Stephenie @Blended Life Happy Wife

First, I wish other people knew that it isn’t something we can just “turn off”. The feelings may be irrational but they are very real to those who suffer from anxiety. Second, if you have anxiety you are not alone and you are not crazy. So many others understand and are here for you. Third, I wish people knew about essential oils and how they can help with anxiety! I have been able to completely get off anxiety medication through the use of essential oils and CBD watermelon rings. There are other options out there than medication with all the awful side effects. Above all, stay strong and never give up on hope   Jennifer @ Essentials Of A Healthy Life

I think it’s important to know that anxiety (like many other things) is not one size fits all. It’s different for everyone. Some can control it better than others, but it is still very real for each person who suffers. I think the first step to learning to control it, is understanding where it is coming from. Knowing what causes my anxiety allows me to pinpoint exactly what I can do to work with it rather than against it. – Elizabeth @ Elizabeth Hutchins

I have bad anxiety. I wish people understood that I like things to be structured because if I know what is going to happen and when it takes a lot of pressure off. I am not OCD I just need to have some control over my environment. – Michelle @ A Bustling Home

I’ve had panic disorder which I now have medication for, it was by far the most terrible experience of my life, and I am chronically ill. Anxiety is worse than chronic illness in my experience. – Lianne

That anxiety is just as prevalent with kids. Many parents struggle with not recognizing the signs in their kids, or not knowing how to help. Find help from educated sources so that you can help them deal with these emotions. – Yvette

That even though you may look like you have it together, are smiling/laughing, or even made it out with friends to a social event, you are still struggling on the inside and it can sometimes take great lengths to do all those normal things. So, sometimes you have to excuse yourself early and go home or simply step away for a while because depending on your situation there may be many triggers for you. – Claudia @ Sour Then Sweet

I wish people would understand that even when all is good in your world, it still happens. Its not always about stress, distress or sadness.. That sometimes talking about it makes it worse so don’t pressure someone to talk on your time, just let then know your open to talking if/when they are comfortable talking about it. That while yes there are triggers and sometimes we can figure them out, sometimes we have no clue who, what, why or how it came on. Sometimes it last seconds, sometimes hours.. That sometimes a person with anxiety lives in a world of chaos and contradictions that only exist to them… – Kelli

It isn’t easy to just turn it off. And it can come up at any time. Just hug me! Deep pressure helps! – Abby

I am a wife of an anxiety sufferer. It is extremely difficult to handle anxiety attacks when you have never experienced one yourself. It is upsetting and sometimes scary as anxiety is so much more ‘real’ than I ever realized before. My daughter now shows signs of similar problems so I’m really in the deep end! Katherine @ TwinPickle

I want people to know that it takes a lot for me to come to an event or party. That I had to try and breath to keep my heart from pounding out if my chest. That I had already gone over hundreds of scenarios and what I will say and how I will react once I walked it because I want to feel in control. That things like not finding a familiar face, not finding a table to sit at, or being left alone while others go be social can cause crippling fear. I know it’s irrational but I am afraid. If you see someone off by themselves, not talking to anyone and looking ready run, going over and talking to them will greatly help their anxiety. I also want to say, don’t make small talk. If you come over and engage me in conversation, I will want actual conversation. Don’t ask about the weather cause that won’t cut it. Us with social anxiety want to be with people but it takes such an emotional toll on us we need a day to recover. Respect that part of ourselves. – MacKenzie @ Wild Unruly and Loved

Mine started at 15 years old and I’m know 58 and still have panic attacks. I have learned to cope. After all these years there are still now explanations and little help. I have done so many therapies and tried medication and still the anxiety prevails. I kept mine a big secret for years, but once I decided to tell everyone, even my mother, what was going on with me I could relax more which helped. – Jere

I have been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder, panic disorder which ultimately lead me to begin having Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures in 2012. (PNES) I began suffering from anxiety and panic induced seizures 5 months after my second child was born while working a high stress career. Ultimately I believe it was the anxiety I had over having to return to work when my baby was just 6 weeks old and then working more than 50 hours a week (because I had to) that lead me to have such a huge break. I was hospitalized. Then baker acted (I apparently said I wanted to die, which I do not remember saying) Then they pumped me full of meds that caused me to have serotonin syndrome which lead to more seizures. After 30 days in the hospital in Orlando area I was transferred to Shands in Gainesville where I was finally diagnosed and treated properly. I have been seizure free for 3 years and, while I still deal with anxiety at times, I am a 100% different person now through therapy and medication. I tell you all of this because I want people to know that if left untreated it can HURT you. It is real. It is not your fault. You can make changes (like diet, coping and environment) that will drastically change your life for the better – Jamie

I feel that there is not enough talking about postpartum anxiety. – Maddalena

I wish people knew that I can’t control my anxiety. I’m plagued by things big & small in my past and they bother me, regardless of my situation, good or bad. – Jody

That meds can actually be critical for certain sufferers, and telling them to “just” exercise more/eat x, y, or z/don’t eat x, y, or z is not just frustrating and unhelpful, but can be harmful as it stigmatizes what could be lifesaving medication and can force the sufferer to choose between functioning on medications or having a relationship with the person without medications. – Noelle

That severe anxiety can cause psychosomatic illnesses, which can become a vicious cycle of causing more anxiety. I used to get terrible stomach aches in social situations or during stressful periods of my life. I saw doctors and they could find nothing medically wrong, but the pain and symptoms were real. Sometimes friends and family would think I was just pretending. – Kristin

I wish other people knew I can’t just not be anxious. I can’t just stop all my fidgeting and moving around or nervous habits. If I could turn them off so easy I would – Chelsea

That I’m not trying to be a pain when I always need to plan ahead. I need to be able to mentally put myself in a situation before going there/doing it to lessen the chance of a panic attack, especially if I’m taking my kids. Also, that as a mom I am naturally a very protective and watchful person, so that shouldn’t be confused with my anxiety. The big difference is that while I and another mother who doesn’t have anxiety but is protective may both not let our children get too far ahead of us walking down the street, I will suddenly be sure that something terrible is going to happen. I will have very graphic images play out in my mind of what could happen to them, and suddenly I’ll have a hard time breathing. That I can be having a wonderful time with family, then I’m suddenly overwhelmed by the thought of them dying and I start shaking. I would like to second other comments about not being able to turn it off or just relax because someone is telling me that everything is actually fine. – Tina @ No, YOU Need To Calm Down

Be more understanding when I’m raging out. Probably means I’m having an anxiety attack. Stay calm and help me breathe thru it. I’ll return to logic eventually.  – Pamela

Anxiety is so much more than just worrying about something. Sometimes as an introvert with anxiety I just need time to “recharge” from how draining it can be. It’s nothing personal, and I do appreciate the concern but telling me to stop worrying or calm down isn’t going to help anything. I’m doing the best I can. – Jami

I suffer with anxiety, especially social anxiety. For me, doing the one thing which I think I cannot do helps. For example, if I don’t think I can leave my apartment, I actually feel SO much better when I leave the environment and hang out with my friends. Oh and that eating right, limiting the alcohol, and sleeping well does wonders. As well as taking your medication regularly. – Cassidy

That anxiety is not always visible to others. Sometimes a person can look calm on the outside and feel torn apart with anxiety inside. – Alyssa

Nutrition plays a huge role in anxiety. Mineral deficiencies such as inositol, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin deficiencies such as certain B vitamins, can be an underlying cause of anxiety and nervousness. Understanding which foods contain these vitamins and minerals but also knowing which foods can block the absorption of these vitamins can make a huge difference in relief of symptoms. – Maryann @ Nutritionally Independent

What do you wish people knew about anxiety disorders?