Anxiety is defined as distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.
Researchers are not yet certain as to how people develop anxiety disorders. The experience with this disorder is completely different for everyone. There is no certain event that can trigger anxiety. It could be one small event, or multiple events. Again, it all depends on the
person. Some people may perceive certain situations to be more dangerous than they actually are, while others may have had a bad experience in the past and they fear that it will occur again (i.e. a dog bite). Some psychologists believe that childhood experiences can contribute to anxiety, even into adulthood.
There are 6 major types of anxiety disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Anxiety Attacks (Panic Disorder)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Phobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
I personally have social anxiety disorder. Many people get nervous when they are speaking to someone of authority, speak in front of large groups, or going for an interview. Social anxiety is more than just nerves. The fear of embarrassing yourself can get so intense that you avoid any situation that may trigger it. It is possible to learn to control the feeling and calm yourself down, but individuals work at their own pace to control it.
My experience with social anxiety is not as serious as others. I feel I have a mild case of it. I fear meeting new people, and what they will think of me. I prefer to stand in the background unnoticed. It's nerve wracking for me to even think about raising my hand in class to ask a question. I sit there and hope that someone wonders the same thing, so I don't have to ask. Tests and exams stress me out so much I have problems studying. I can't focus on my notes long enough to memorize them - all I think about is whether I am going to fail or not.
I try to avoid any type of social situation that I possibly can. If it's necessary that I need to encounter the situation, I feel the need to bring someone that I know along with me. I tend to stay in the background to hopefully go unnoticed.
I sometimes feel like people will be able to know what I'm thinking, and they can hear my worrying thoughts. If people are laughing near me, I assume they are laughing AT me. I fear the thought of what people think of me. If I go out into public with someone, I feel that they will think "Why is she with him/her." I've always had issues with my confidence, so going out in public situations where people can see me, and potentially judge me is just insane for me to think about.
There are many ways to cope with the anxiety. Some examples are :
- taking deep breaths
- facing your fears
- changing your lifestyle
- challenge negative thoughts
- believe in yourself
- etc.
While these are great suggestions, I feel as if those are only temporary solutions. I think that people don't take mental illnesses as seriously as they should. Mental disorders and disabilities are just as important as other sicknesses. I feel as though mental illness tends to get over looked, and is said to be "just a phase" and the patient will "grow out of it". In saying this, I feel that this is why people are ashamed to admit they have a mental illness. If someone has diabetes, that doesn't get over-looked - Doctors take that very seriously. So why is mental illness any different?
[Sources used for facts & information:]
http://www.anxietybc.com/parent/anxiety.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/mental-eng.php
http://www.cmha.ca
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/social_anxiety_support_symptom_causes_treatment.htm
