To think "I have anxiety" is becoming the new 'go to' armchair diagnosis?

[ClothEaredBint]

I'm saying this as someone who actually has an Anxiety Disorder, diagnosed, medicated, lived with it for 20 years and which has a serious impact on my ability to function day to day..

I seem to be spotting it being thrown out like a disclaimer for peoples neurotic behaviour on here just lately, and its really actually starting to get on my fucking nerves.

Yes, you might be anxious, it does NOT mean you HAVE Anxiety.

Anxiety is a recognised mental health disorder that seriously affects peoples ability to function, it filters into every aspect of their lives.

Claiming you 'have anxiety' when something is worrying you is as offensive to those of us who actually DO have it as saying 'a little bit OCD' when you like something done a specific way, or 'a little bit depressed' when you're a bit sad about something.

Stop it.

You're minimising a very real and very upsetting disorder that people actually suffer with.

It's one people don't fully understand i think. My siblings both suffer from anxiety (they take medication and it's had a discernible impact on their lives) and often people think they're 'fussy' or 'cautious'. More education needed

I totally agree

Agreed. Pretty much every thread nowadays involves someone saying they have anxiety and so can't possible deal with some kind of situation or another.

Everyone gets anxious and nervous in some social siutuations and feels uncomfortable confronting others etc. It doesn't mean you have anxiety, it just means you're human.

And I say this as someone who has suffered from OCD in the past - properly diagnosed and treated etc.

I agree. I suffer from anxiety which is at times completely debilitating and it makes my teeth grind to here other people use it usually as an excuse for being a fucking idiot.

How do you know these people haven't been formally diagnosed? In any case, I also live with an anxiety disorder and found that the process of being diagnosed (alongside bipolar disorder) took years.

I think anxiety is one of those disorders where you KNOW if you have it and not just regular anxious feelings.

Yes! I totally agree. I see it on here a lot and it angers me.

Hear!

*I have DIAGNOSED anxiety

I agree OP. I have GAD and it affects my life every single day. It's very misunderstood.

Totally agree. Most of my siblings also have medication for our anxiety disorder. One who doesn't tries to cheer us up by telling us not to worry

It seems sometimes to be used in very particular ways by people who don't want to do something. This can't be helpful for people who actually have an anxiety condition.

Agree. I think it's a symptom of Internet addiction.

Agreed.
I have read numerous threads where the poster states their problem, gets positive affirmation that they are correct/not being unreasonable, then update with 'I'm glad because I suffer from social anxiety/anxiety'.
I return to the active thread list at this point thinking oh that chestnut.

I have an anxiety disorder too and disagree with you, and sympathise with anyone experiencing anxiety, whether or not it is at "clinical" levels.

Like many illnesses there is a range of severity. Many people don't realise anxiety is affecting their life and relationships.

I think a lot of people wouldn't know that there is such a thing as a diagnosed anxiety disorder as such.

I totally agree.

I watch a lot of beauty content on YouTube and am regularly by how many youtubers claim to have anxiety. It's ridiculous. Would love to know how many of these people have an actual diagnosis.

Agree completely. People preface every bloody ibu post with "I have anxiety" so they won't get such a hard time imo. It's as if you can put in a disorder then that somehow excuses your behaviour.

It does seem to be very widespread on MN at the moment, certainly. Also the answer for anyone´s bad behaviour does seem to be that "maybe they have anxiety". I am diagnosed with depression and I get anxiety when I am in a bad phase, but at no point have either been an excuse for me to behave badly. It annoys me when it is presented as a "get out" for poor behaviour.

I have anxiety, depression and ocd. Diagnosed, had treatment, awaiting more treatment...it ruins a lot of my life. I hate it. I also have friends who have "bad anxiety" because they've lost their bank card or something trivial, once found or cancelled etc their anxiety is gone. Mine isn't, it's like a big growth stuck to me telling me all my fears will happen and that I'm not good enough, people hate me. It's horrible! But I also think I can hide it..altho not very well this past year as I've been a wreck but previous years I could sometimes hide it, put on a smile for work, college etc.

Completely agree. I have fully diagnosed PTSD and anxiety and it is totally debilitating. I can't work or leave my house. It is REALLY frustrating when people say they have anxiety when they don't. It's also really annoying when people say they're "going to have a panic attack" and they wouldn't know what one was if it smacked them over the head with a floppy kipper. And people who say they're OCD because they like things clean.

Anxiety is a symptom of an untreated unknown cause. No one is born with anxiety, but circumstances can conspire to cause it over time.

It's a shame that in this day and age, there is no focus on longer term talking therapies, to combat the symptoms and lower the stress, even curing it. Short term CBT doesn't always cut the mustard.

I've often wondered how people are able to post when they are having a panic attack I know I wouldn't be able to.

I see what you mean, I guess though you have no way of knowing if someone who says "I have anxiety" on mn means "I am medically diagnosed with an anxiety disorder" or "I'm a bit of a nervous person"

I disagree. I think we all suffer with anxiety to some degree and what others feel is to them, how they are, and we have no way of knowing how others feel. It may be a spectrum but just because someone has a label or diagnosis, does not mean others don't suffer as well.