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

Can you give us an example. It sounds like you've observed something in your life that's made you come to this conclusion.

Why not share?

Not true at all. I've never had anxiety until I hit peri. My anxiety is 100% hormonal. It's utterly paralysing. For a long time didn't know WTH was going on because it came from nowhere and made no sense (because it was hormonal and so 'nothing' was causing it, if you see what I mean).

If something needed doing and I was paralysed by the anxiety, and there was no one else to do it, it wouldn't get done.

I'd berate and punish myself for not being able to do something as simple as, say, phoning the GP. But I just couldn't force myself to do it. I'd be stuck.

Thankfully HRT means it's mostly under control. But for someone who has never experienced this - like me, before perimenopause - it seems completely inconceivable, I know. But it's the weirdest and most horrible thing - and for me is made worse by the fact it does not respond to logic or reason.

This. It sounds ridiculous to tell someone you have low self esteem. I would be embarrassed to say this and you'd get people saying you are being ridiculous. Easier to say you suffer anxiety in those situations.

Anxiety is an emotion that's part of a normal human experience. People have varying abilities to deal with anxiety (and other unpleasant emotions) largely linked to things that aren't their fault, like their early childhood experiences.

I don't think anxiety is exactly the same as low self-esteem, though they can be linked. And I don't think the fact the op can push through anxiety when others can't makes them a superior person.

Life limiting

Are you really putting it in the same bracket as Cancer, MND, MS?

Feeling anxious comes from lack of confidence or low self esteem perhaps

And some people may use anxiety over feeling anxious to not face a situation because it can be an easier cover rather than having to deal with the situation.

But that’s up to them, if it’s your partner or children, or parents or very close friends even you might be able to help build up their confidence or at least let them know you will be there to catch them when they fall. But as for those outside your sphere of influence- what exactly can you do? Shrug and say ok don’t come then.

If it’s just acquaintances, fair weather friends or even more remote strangers online then does it matter what they call it.

Hahahahahaha

you don’t know what you’re talking about.

life limiting - as in seriously limits (constrains) your ability to live your life.
Not as in will end your life earlier than 'normal'

GAD is very much life constraining.

There’s a difference between being anxious about something specific (a natural human emotion) and having an anxiety disorder. I am sure anxiety can be heightened about certain things if you are struggling with low self esteem.

I have an anxiety disorder (thankfully mostly under control at the moment) and when it is at its worst it is like being in a car speeding at a brick wall all the time. It is debilitating. I don’t have particularly low self esteem.

Considering I've never ski'd or been a diver, it wouldn't be anxiety or lack of confidence that would stop me.

It would be the fact I know I'm putting myself in immortal danger......

What comes first though? The anxiety or the effect of the anxiety?

Just because you don't agree with me and vice versa doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. Or that I'm not entitled to an opinion.

All very well having anxiety when people will pick up the things you can't or won't do.

What on earth don't you understand about that? Have you ever had a panic attack?

As someone with GAD who had a breakdown a couple of years ago and lived in an eternal panic attack for months where I thought I might have to kill myself to make it stop, you really should shut up.

But a panic attack won't kill you, will it, surely its self limiting?

In my case, I wouldn’t do something even if nobody else could do it for me, it just wouldn’t get done. So I don’t leave the house really. My anxiety prevents it. I had a blood test on Monday, had a panic attack I the surgery and only managed to bc stay as DH was by my side. If he had not been there I would have left, I simply would not have managed it. It is incredibly debilitating.

So you wouldn't have got the blood test....and what would have been the consequences??

A new appointment made?

So you don't leave the house?
Shopping?
Thats what I'm saying you wouldn't starve yourself to death would you.

What? It stops, then another starts. Its affects everything. I couldn't work, had to be looked after like a toddler. Couldn't sleep. Couldn't eat. Couldn't be on my own. What on earth is self limiting about that? Its not just 'Oh, I feel a bit panicky. It will pass'. It feels like you're going to die. And then as soon as it stops it happens again. Its taken years to get back to a point where I can just get through the day and go to work. I'm nowhere near 'cured', because that isn't a thing. I take medication. I have psychotherapy - it helps me just be alive. I can't do a million things. My life is limited. I'm just existing to get through

I work with a grown adult in her 30s who is "too anxious" to get a taxi or a bus to work in case she gets assaulted and insists her dad drops her off.
However, this same woman can get herself to concerts in London and even Disney World in USA.
So I call bullshit on her anxiety.

This

Oh great. Yeah, as long as I'm alive its all good. No matter who it hurt.

“Just” doing a lot of heavy lifting