This Ain’t No Panic at the Disco
Anxiety: a mental disorder from which someone might feel there is no escape from.
Anxiety: a state a mind that tells you that everything will go wrong even on the sunniest day.
Anxiety: linked to panic disorder that gives you no reason to panic.
Anxiety is defined as the feeling of distress or uneasiness of the mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the most common disorder in the United States, affecting 40 million adults (ages 18 and older) in the U.S. or approximately 18% of the population. Anxiety disorders are defined as a common mental illness designated by feelings of uneasiness, worry and fear. While anxiety sometimes occurs for everyone, a person with an anxiety disorder feels an inappropriate amount of anxiety more often than is reasonable.
Stress and Anxiety are related. Anxiety can be a result of being too stressed out whether it be about work, or school, or relationships. But stress and anxiety should not be used interchangeably.
The main difference between the two is what causes them. Stress is caused by stressors or anything negative that puts high demands on you. Anxiety has uncontrollable causes, it can be from panic disorder, stress disorder, or phobia disorder. It’s important to know the difference between the two so if you do think suffering from anxiety, you know it is something you need to be aware of so you can monitor it.
One of the most important truths about anxiety, and something that a lot of people overlook, is that sometimes it really can’t be controlled, which might lead to a panic attack. If you or a loved one is suffering from anxiety disorder or panic disorder, do not undermine it . It is very real and it is important to know that your feelings are valid.
For anyone who is still unsure about what anxiety really is and how scary it can be, below is an infographic explaining the myths that you’ve probably heard and the facts that might be the unknown truth.
Anxiety can affect someone’s daily routine. It can hold them back from going out with family or friends, or getting to school or work on time. Anxiety is caused by irrational fears that seem to be blown out of proportion, such as saying the wrong thing to a loved one and them hating you for it or getting in a car crash on your way to work. Anxiety can stop someone from living a simple life because they fear their life will never be simple, something will always go wrong.
Of course, this is not something a lot of people like to talk about, unless it’s to someone they completely trust, like a therapist. A lot of emotions will get bottled up, emotions that that person is too afraid to say out loud on account of being told that they are overreacting or being too dramatic. But I promise you, that’s not the case.
Sometimes people aren’t so keen to share their personal life, especially when it comes to talking about experiences with anxiety. It helps if the person knows that they can be trusted and won’t be judged and that their feelings will be taken seriously.
The following slides are quotes submitted by my friends and family. They talk about personal experiences with their anxiety, whether it be what triggers a panic attack, what makes them feel uneasiness, or overall how it affects their life. As mentioned before, anxiety sometimes stops us from having a normal day. The simplest things can throw us off. For instance, one persons talks about getting anxious about getting up to go to the bathroom during class. This should be something that wouldn’t even be thought twice about, because if you got to go, you got to go. But if you’re feeling anxious, the thought that might be stopping you is having everyone watch you get up and leave, almost as if they are judging you.
https://www.slideshare.net/RachaelPerez1/anxiety-in-the-eyes-of-others
Panic Attacks
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When a panic attack occurs, you might think you’re losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.
The following video is an example of what someone might be thinking about before having a panic attack. Anxiety can sometimes feel overpowering. When you feel like you’ve lost control, you are no longer in position to take care of yourself. Anxiety and panic take over and as a result, you feel attacked.
Knowing that it is physically impossible to turn off your brain if you want to continue living, the second best thing you can do is to ignore the negative thoughts your brain is telling you and calm yourself down with positive thoughts. Most of the time, when you dealing with anxiety that sprouts from irrational fears, your brain will be telling you things that aren’t even true. When you take back your control, tell yourself that you are okay and that those negative thoughts aren’t true.
Kandi Whitacre has dealt with anxiety her whole life. She was first exposed to it at a young age when her mother would have panic attacks out in a public place, through when she grew older and was pregnant with her third child-having panic attacks herself from all the chemical imbalance-to nowadays with one of her kids dealing with their own anxiety.
Kandi describes anxiety being invisible. Only the person who is dealing with it can see it and feel it. It’s not until someone has a panic attack that others can see physically what is going on with that person. She also brings up an important fact: not everyone’s anxiety is caused by the same factors. In her family, it is a chemical imbalance that causes that person to feel uneasy. But as mentioned before it could also come from a phobia or a previous traumatic event.
The last thing that Kandi mentions is what to do if you’re helping someone through a panic attack. The most important thing is to show empathy. Make sure that persons know that you are there for them, and you won’t leave their side until the attack passes.
If someone trusts you enough to help them during a panic attack, it’s important to understand whats going on and to know exactly what they need.
Anxiety is confusing. Whether you deal with it or not, it can be a mystery. If you do deal with it, you may not know why. If you don’t deal with it, you may not understand why someone is panicking. It doesn’t matter. What matters is you’re there for that person and telling them that everything will be okay.
If you need to talk to someone, don’t be afraid to reach out. Take everything day by day. The storm will pass. Believe that everything will be okay in the end.
References:
Gordon, Joshua A. "Any Anxiety Disorder Among Adults." National Institute of Mental Health, 2014, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-anxiety-disorder-among-adults.shtml.Tracy, Natasha. "What is an Anxiety Disorder?" Healthy Place, 2017, www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/anxiety-disorders/what-is-an-anxiety-disorder-anxiety-disorder-definition."Panic attacks and panic disorder." Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/panic-attacks/basics/definition/con-20020825.
