To say “anxiety” is just low self esteem and confidence.

I know someone who had to dash to the loo before a job interview. Very normal of course but she said it was because she 'had anxiety'. No, she was just nervous and often that can make people quite literally crap themselves .

If she was like that everytime she popped to the shop she'd maybe have a point.

I think the op is saying that being worried about worrying things is not having an anxiety disorder yet some seem unable to see the difference.

I think this kind of attitude, which ultimately seems to be that you expect anxiety to be rational e.g. all driving situations, not jusy some, all social situations, not just the gym, adds to the challenges of having anxiety. The fear that people are going to dismiss, minimise or scorn you for having genuinely debilitating anxiety (which doesn't necessarily need medication, therapy or cause daily issues) makes it so hard to be open about it and adds extra stress to it all.

I won't deny there are someone people who use the term flippantly, just as some say they have OCD or PTSD in a casual manner, but I think your posts indicate a real need to educate yourself and be more compassionate and less judgemental.

Maybe look at why people can't be honest with you. Reading your own posts will give you a few clues.

I think there's some truth on what op is saying, but also agree low self esteem and self confidence are serious. Its more the word anxiety gets overused. I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and mild depression in my first pregnancy. I actually think this is wrong and I actually am autistic, and was anxious about birth and becoming a mum in my first pregnancoes. So I was waking in a panic, getting intrusive thoughts etc. but they went away after I had my baby. Because i have had what I used to say a panic attack in supermarket/Primark and find sounds/lights/busy environments overstimulating. But I would say I don't like shopping. I still go to the shops, because I want to keep myself desensitized.

'easily with confidence and self esteem. Some people have an incredibly lack of self esteem and confidence.' where can they easily bottle this self confidence and self esteem?

I think it's more because they can't be arsed

I don’t think YABU, but some levels of anxiety are perfectly normal and should not be thought of as MH issues. E.g. when starting a new job, taking a driving test, taking exams, even attending a party or any do where you don’t really know anybody.

We all know the lucky people who gaily breeze through everything with no nerves, but many of us do get ‘normally’ anxious about this or that.

Struggling to see the point of this post.

So you're not referring to anxiety disorders, just saying that people say they are 'anxious' when they mean they have a lack of confidence/self-esteem.

Those things can cause anxiety, for sure - they can be the root of the anxiety, or not. So I suppose you're saying that, in cases where anxiety stems from low confidence or self-esteem, you demand people to communicate using those terms rather than 'anxiety', even if that is the presenting symptom.

To sum up, struggling to find the main issue here.

Wow, shocking you think this. There are many different reasons for anxiety and none of it is a self esteem issue. Have you heard of health anxiety? This has nothing to do with self esteem and yet many people suffer from it. Fear of going to the doctor, dentist, worry something is wrong with them or their child etc. I suffer from anxiety and can worry about certain parts of the house causing harm. Such as if a mirror suddenly falls off the wall (even though its been hung ten years just fine!). Or if the bed falls through the floors etc. I also suffer health anxiety and always think the worst case for anything....even though im slim and health is fine according to doctor. I get super anxious on flights or in cars because of emetaphobia because my child suffers motion sickness.....anyway im sure many others have come along to say the same....anxiety has nothing to do with self esteem and its astonishing you think this. Never heard something so dumb.

Having low self-esteem and low self-confidence also isn't the same as "having anxiety" - which you still haven't defined!

I get your point but how does a person suddenly get the confidence/self esteem to do things? You might not class it as a mental illness but it still requires therapy/some kind of help. So does it make a difference if it is classed as a disorder or not?

You can say whatever you like.

I personally am bursting with confidence in many ways. But suffer from extreme anxiety and panic attacks.

I have CPTSD and ADD and low self esteem but unfortunately anxiety is a separate condition.

Not necessarily. In some cases, wanting to do things is actually the trigger for anxiety and inability to do them eg in PDA autism.

Nope 100% nothing to do with it. Ive never had anxiety issues and the last couple years ive had a lot of issues with my hormones and anxiety can hit me out of nowhere and its definitely hormone based as sometimes im fine and other times its genuinely awful and everything feels terrifying.

I think its very easy to feel like you know whats going on until you experience it yourself.

Give us examples

I diagnose the OP with a touch of the Dunning Krugers.

'I won't deny there are someone people who use the term flippantly, just as some say they have OCD or PTSD in a casual manner'

Yes and it minimises it for those with genuine serious issues. Ocd isn't being fussy for example, it's being controlled by intrusive thoughts. Ptsd is not having experienced a challenging time, we all live through problems. Ptsd is a serious condition usually following an extreme experience.

Some of these labels remind me of those with addictions. It medicalises problems and absolves the person of agency to manage things. So they 'have anxiety' it's now a medical problem and the person cannot manage issues.

It doesn't alway help. Yes people need support but they also need to know that some responses are normal and not a disorder.

Sometimes the word is misused, however the person may be well aware that they low self confidence and self esteem, but they're not likely to say that to any random person are they?
It's far easier and in line with social norms for people to just label it as anxiety. Imagine how awkward it would be if everyone started telling people about how they couldn't do x, y and z due to their low self esteem.