To think anxiety is a disability

[listenup7]

I'm talking about real anxiety, the all consuming anxiety you can't control and it becomes a part of you.

I have suffered all my life. I don't want to be this way, it is a part of me. I kid myself to try and be something else but it doesn't work. It comes off in my body language or something.

I don't want to be a victim but it's so frustrating when people don't understand it's not something you can just stop. Some also think it's laughable to call it a disability- when people think of disabilities they don't think about mental health.

I've had anxiety pretty much my whole life, mostly stemming from poor parenting as a child.

Non-anxious people only have to face their fears when confronted with them - spiders, heights, etc. But with anxiety, everything is a fear. We face our fears every single moment of every single day. I used to be paralysed with fear at the thought of even going outside, fearing that I was going to go insane and be carted off somewhere. I hesitate to say I'm 'well', but I'm doing much better these days, working at the office and socialising again. My thoughts don't control me (although they're often there).

But when I was in my worst days, it certainly was a disability. Luckily I had a very understanding workplace that couldn't have been kinder, but it was often my own family that laughed it off or told me to stop worrying. So I know how you feel, OP.

Yanbu.

I had 7 years of therapy, which although didn’t rid me of the anxiety, it made me learn how to manage it and changed my mindset. I just had enough one day and didn’t want to be feeling that way any longer. Is that an option?

Yes, I'm completely disabled by it.

YANBU. It can be completely disabling. I have days where I literally can not physically move from a foetal position on the sofa, or being myself to eat anything.

I definitely think it can be if it's so severe that you are having a hard time coping. I actually have generalized anxiety disorder myself. It never got to a point where I was totally disabled by it, but it still affected my life and my relationships.

It's expected that mental health issues will become a leading cause of disability in the next few years. I would strongly recommend that you see your provider and possibly get some counselling from a licensed mental health therapist. Both can be very helpful in reducing anxiety. I have gone for some counselling and take medication daily. My anxiety is reduced significantly.

YANBU

Luckily my anxiety is under control but my younger sister suffers awfully. Took over a year to get her to set foot in the Drs office, and when she was finally coaxed there she had a massive anxiety attack while waiting to see the Dr. She had to get medical assistance in the waiting room after collapsing due to hyperventilating so much. My heart breaks for her as mine was that bad when I was her age and I ended up in hospital a few times. No one can truly understand until they've been through it. You can't apply logic to anxiety