During the first week of October, the Counseling Center at Oswego put on Mental Health Awareness Week; a week-long series of events dedicated to shedding light on mental health issues that are often overlooked. One of those overlooked mental health issues is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a disorder that, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, causes an individual to worry or think excessively about seemingly small problems that they face throughout the day. Midterms aren’t the only time people experience anxiety. In fact, many people face anxiety and not just near a big test but, rather, in everyday situations.
What’s surprising is the amount of people that are affected by the disorder. The ADAA reports around 6.8 million Americans are plagued with anxiety, women being the more likely gender to develop anxiety. With those statistics in mind, it is very likely that you or someone you know has anxiety. In fact, I’ll let you in on a secret; I have it! So if you’re reading this and have anxiety, you’re far from alone!
Currently, there is no known cause for the disorder. Research, however, suggests that family history, biology, and stressful experiences may contribute to developing the disorder. There is a large history of anxiety in the women in my family, for example, and stands to reason why I have it, too. Everyone’s experiences with anxiety are different, however, and many develop it from outside pressures, like school and social life. Social situations seem to generate the most anxiety in people, as many people worry that they are being judged or gossiped about.
With so little known about how and why this disorder occurs, stigmas often pop up at the expense of those suffering from it. Many times these are rather insensitive comments that include phrases like: “Oh stop, it’s not that bad” or “Just stop thinking about it, geez!”
Anxiety, though, is not nearly as simple as some people seem to think. Wishing away a thought doesn’t just happen! When mean comments that suggest to a sufferer of anxiety that they should just stop thinking about what is bothering them, it makes a person feel like they should be able to stop worrying. And while some fears certainly may seem “irrational” by others’ standards, dismissing such feelings as being “not that bad” is hugely insensitive and shows a disregard to that person’s frame of mind and fears. Stigmas like these hurt, making one feel vulnerable. A problem may be minor or even non-existent, but to someone with anxiety, it feels terrifying and threatening.
Those without anxiety may wonder how a person’s feelings with anxiety are different.Truthfully, there is are no universal ‘feelings’ that every person with anxiety has. Some people with anxiety may feel like they need to constantly be doing something or they’ll be perceived as lazy. Others fret about their school work, worrying that teachers and other students might think they aren’t smart. Some may even constantly feel, “Oh sh*t, I shouldn’t have said that,” after every little thing they say to someone, worrying that what they said will cause the person to hate them forever.
Many people experience physical symptoms of panicking, resulting in sending them into a panic attack. Panic attack symptoms include a feeling of a tightening in the chest, shortness of breath, and a tense posture. Mentally, a panic attack causes the sufferer to feel frantic to solve the problem at hand. Ultimately, unless the problem is resolved somehow, the thought or worry will follow a person around all day and can disrupt their school work, extracurricular activities, and affect their relationships with others. So the short answer? Anxiety really sucks and can make you want to bite your nails down to nubs!
Of course, people with anxiety all have their little tricks to calm down and relax. Many people keep diaries or journals, writing down what makes them fret. Others practice deep-breathing techniques, or even count or sing. My personal way of dealing with anxiety is by calling my mother and talking to her. Sometimes I even simply try to think “I have bigger fish to fry” and make a little list of all the things I really need to do that day. Some people seek out professional help and work alongside psychologists to work out their fears. (A note for taking the professional route: lots of psychologists work from home, so if they have pets, you get an added bonus of animal therapy too!) Many people with anxiety take medication to give them an extra oomph! in helping their brains keep the worries away. All of these methods can be used together or separate and largely depends on personal preference.
So long story short: when you have severe anxiety, your enemy is in the form of your own mind, acting as a little nagging voice that makes you worry. The good thing is that people with anxiety have networks of people that can help them out such as friends, family, and, yes, even psychologists with pets. If you have anxiety and are reading this, remember to take a deep breath and don’t give up! You can do it!