Controversial subject.. Anxiety in Z list superstars

[Doyadoyadoya]

Name changed for this as I'm fairly sure this will spark debate.. I am on Instagram, I've seen a sudden rise in Z list celebrities alleging they have anxiety.. It almost feels like its "fashionable" and plays disservice to those genuinely who do have anxiety related issues.
Or am I seeing it incorrectly? Surely the pressure of fame, spotlight and constant media attention can cause anxiety in these celebrities.. I don't know, I just wondered what others think?

Two sides to this, I suppose. In some ways frustrating - my husband has been on meds since the age of 17 for anxiety. People at work would be shocked. He runs his own department and is a bit of a high flyer but sometimes we have to lie to get him out of social events because he just can't function that day.

On the one hand it feels like it could minimise it, when everyone and their dog claims to have an issue. On the other hand, the sooner we think of things like anxiety more in the vein of any other condition and not something someone can just get over, the better.

The constant use of 'I'm OCD' is another one. My sister is medicated for it. She's not tidy at all but is constantly haunted by intrusive thoughts and it's really affected her life.

As someone with diagnosed anxiety I think it's great to have more mention of it in the media I'm not sure it is really. I think people are more likely to equate having anxiety with being a bit anxious now as this is often what is portrayed in the media.

As a mum of a teen anxiety seems to be an in thing and used as a get out of jail free card. It’s normal to be anxious about some situations eg making a presentation, sitting a driving test etc. By letting them opt out they don’t gain experience and ways of coping. It’s normal to be anxious. Obviously for some people it tips too far and is debilitating and they need medication/therapy/modifications but that’s not the case for most.

Been fashionable among young women for a few years now, generally undiagnosed. Im sick of hearing about it.

Clearly not everyone who is anxious has the condition anxiety just like every person who behaves in a narcissistic way from time to time has narcissistic personality disorder. The problem is armchair diagnosis with no relevant expertise. By that token though, it’s impossible for anyone to say someone claiming they have anxiety does not unless they’ve had sight of their medical records.

I think that because anxiety is normal, there are a lot of people who find any trace of it to be a disorder and seek help. On one hand I think it is good to flag up how many people may be struggling with anxiety as it has always been under reported and downplayed. On the other it is annoying to have your issue coopted for publicity.

@TeenMinusTests

I think normalising talking about MH issues is important. Too often people don't ask for help when they need to because of social stigmas. At the moment 'celebrities' being open about this kind of issue, even if some are 'only anxious' is probably still more beneficial than harmful.

DD and I have 'lost' over a year to her anxiety. It's heartbreaking.

Hear hear.

Teenminustests Sorry to hear your DC is struggling they are clearly in category I said in last sentence and need all help and support they get. But majority of class won’t be in that category. Surely everyone saying they have it when they just have butterflies in tummy takes time and resources from those who really need it like your teen.

YABU for paying attention to Z list insta celebs 🤣

I can't say I'm overly bothered by it.

I have a psychiatrist I take antipsychotics and antidepressants daily for my PTSD, anxiety and depression. I hold down a full time job, am a line parent to one child and get on with life, I'd be lying however if I said I don't do the occasional eye roll when a z list influencer comes out with their anxiety issues over modeling some online brand or weight loss tea.

But on the flip side it's probably better more people start talking about mental health diagnosis and how common they are to remove the stigma associated to them.

Swings and roundabouts as they say.

What people don't seem to realise anymore is that some level of anxiety is normal. For everyone. There are situations where anyone would feel anxious, and that's ok.

Feeling anxious sometimes and actually having an anxiety disorder are two different things. I have previously been diagnosed with GAD. I'm actually much better these days but when it was bad it was crippling I barely left my house.

I do think you can get better even if you're diagnosed. I don't consider that I have GAD anymore or at the moment, I suppose it could come back. I sometimes feel anxious but I feel like it's now at a normal level.

If I had a pound for everyone who says they suffer with anxiety I'd be loaded.

She eats crisps with a spoon.
Sorry about your dd but I don't understand the connection with crisps. My dh eats crisps with a spoon. He doesn't have anxiety.

I'm so glad you said it first, @Lonel. My own son does. It's a bit eccentric but surely not a hallmark of anxiety. And it hasn't limited my life at all.

Speaking purely based on my experience with DS (ASD and ARFID) anxiety around food can lead to rules and rituals such as eating crisps with a spoon. He eats certain foods with a spoon to avoid touching them as he likes the taste but not the feel.

@ConstanceGracy

Yes, it’s offensive. I have diagnosed GAD and I’m on beta blockers, it’s bloody exhausting and seeing all these pouty idiots claiming to have anxiety while getting their tits out or shirtless blokes with a far off look on their faces sitting on the grass makes me want to vomit. This is why I try to avoid these types of fuckwits

What about any of those things would stop them having anxiety, though?

I've got a selection of diagnosed and medicated mental illnesses. I could still get my tits out or sit on grass with my top off and still be mentally ill?

Not sure why that makes them fuckwits. Gatekeeping mental illness is a shitty look, to be honest. I'd rather 50 'fuckwits' confuse normal life ups and downs as anxiety and encourage their followers to be open about it than one single person feel they couldn't seek help for their mental health.

Anxiety exists on a spectrum and some here don't realise that. It's like covid, or a cold or a fractured arm - there are light cases not needing treatment, people go about their normal day. Others spend days in bed, need to go to hospital or need surgery. It doesn't mean that the former never had a cold or a fractured arm - but anything to do with your body does get accepted as illness, whereas not everything to do with your mind does and the responses here show that.

This thread here just shows there is so much to do to get mental health issues accepted. It is well possible to have anxiety and to be suffering without taking heavy medication. Equally, there are an awful lot of people out there who take antidepressants - you probably have no idea about the people in your life on them.

It's not a competition, you know. Consider yourself lucky if you aren't suffering.

Totally agree OP and it is one of the many reasons I avoid social media as much as possible.
I have diagnosed anxiety and mild depression and I find it insulting that these pouting idiots use anxiety so frivolously, throwing it around whenever they're having a bad day. Pisses me off.

Maybe don't bother reading what Z-list celebs say? Why would you believe a word of it? They say things that they think will further their career. None of it has any authenticity. If it happens to be true that's just a coincidence!

(To be fair I would apply the same principle to anything said by any celebrity from any section of the alphabet.)

@HomerSimpsonsDonut

Totally agree OP and it is one of the many reasons I avoid social media as much as possible. I have diagnosed anxiety and mild depression and I find it insulting that these pouting idiots use anxiety so frivolously, throwing it around whenever they're having a bad day. Pisses me off.

It's impressive you've got a degree in Psychiatry Via Instagram.

Having anxiety is absolute bullshit, I know. I've been being treated for various mental illnesses since I was 14 and I hate it. But you have NO idea whether these people have anxiety or not and you don't get to fucking decide whose experience of their mental health is 'legitimate' or not.

@Twatalert

Anxiety exists on a spectrum and some here don't realise that. It's like covid, or a cold or a fractured arm - there are light cases not needing treatment, people go about their normal day. Others spend days in bed, need to go to hospital or need surgery. It doesn't mean that the former never had a cold or a fractured arm - but anything to do with your body does get accepted as illness, whereas not everything to do with your mind does and the responses here show that.

This thread here just shows there is so much to do to get mental health issues accepted. It is well possible to have anxiety and to be suffering without taking heavy medication. Equally, there are an awful lot of people out there who take antidepressants - you probably have no idea about the people in your life on them.

It's not a competition, you know. Consider yourself lucky if you aren't suffering.

Well said.

@therocinante wow, you're rude. No need to swear at me.

[quote HomerSimpsonsDonut]@therocinante wow, you're rude. No need to swear at me.[/quote]
I feel like slagging off people you've decided are 'idiots' and therefore not allowed to have good and bad mental health days is ruder, to be honest.

Also, I was swearing generally. Not at you.

I agree OP. Anxiety is a normal part of life but it seems everyone is suddenly self-diagnosing anxiety disorders every time they get a bit apprehensive. It is really offensive to people with debilitating anxiety.

Even people you consider to be vacuous airheads can suffer with anxiety.