Anxiety

[quisensoucie]

In pretty much every MN post, not matter in which forum, someone will declare social anxiety, work anxiety, health anxiety, etc. Indeed, today someone declared herself as Elton John phobic...
I wonder, and this is not being goady, do all have a DSM-V diagnosis, or is this self-diagnosing? Anxiety is normal in many of these situations (not the elton john, obviously), so is it that people don't understand some anxiety is normal so panic, then the situation becomes self-perpetuating...

Yes, lots of people suffer from anxiety. You can be considered to have a MH issue without an anxiety disorder diagnosis.

If you don't struggle with your MH, well done you. But many people do.

If you want to understand when normal anxiety becomes a mental health issue (rather than just look on other people in judgement) this is a basic bit of info
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/about-anxiety/

I think I know what you mean. People use anxiety to describe being anxious or worried in normal circumstances - there are situations where worry is a normal reaction and indeed not worrying would be strange. Having worries of any kind does not constitute having anxiety.

When someone says I have anxiety, I tend to interpret that meaning as a medical diagnosis rather than just I am anxious or worried about x/y, because it is a broader statement. But I am aware people often self-diagnose so perhaps haven’t had it confirmed medically. I was diagnosed with GAD and panic disorder about 20 years ago (back when you could get a GP appointment!)

I'm diagnosed. Generalised anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia.

The problem is that people so often use the word "anxiety" when they really just mean "worry" - which means people end up misunderstanding actual anxiety and what it actually is, and the effects. Now people think that those with anxiety are simply experiencing the same "worry" they feel about things.

Worry and anxiety feel completely different. They are completely different. Anxiety can be nothing to do witubbeing worried. I get worried about some situations. Other situations can trigger anxiety. Being worried about a situation won't necessarily trigger anxiety for me. Similarly, being anxious about a situation does not mean I have ever been the least bit worried about it.

Panic disorder is even more nonsensical. Panic attacks popping out of no where, at random times. We've figured out one trigger for me is just being tired, so I can have a panic attack all snuggled and happy in bed after having a lovely stress free day. No worries. Not even anxiety. But boom, panic attack, because my brain wiring is faulty I suppose.

Actual anxiety disorders, as mental illness, is so, so far from anything like "worry". It would be nice if people would stop using the two as synonymous for a start, I feel.

How rude. I was not judging, i asked a question. Does everone have a diagnosis or do some self-diagnose?
That is all. We've seen an explosion of such issues, I was curious

If you are curious, and you mentioned the DSM, watch Dr James Davies explain the origin and evolution of the DSM.
Dr James Davies: The Origins of the DSM

It is absolutely fascinating, and also horrifying. We are no where near sceptical enough when it comes to psychiatry and mental health and the influence of the pharmaceutical companies.

Really, watch it!

DS has separation anxiety and anxiety both totally different, diagnosed years apart and treated different. His separation anxiety is well under control and his general anxiety is under control 80% of the time but he has to do the work to keep it that way

Great post, and absolutely true.

I do think there are people who self-diagnose with anxiety because they expect life to be relaxed and easy all the time, and when it's not, they feel like something is properly wrong. I remember reading an article (can't remember where, but it was a mainstream newspaper) which suggested that part of the problem is that we've made childhood too "nice", and kids are being sheltered from anything unpleasant - it leads to adults who have no framework for handling any kind of difficulty

Thank you @Agix .

There's worry ,which is from thinking and anxiety which is kind of a a body response and is subconscious. So they are different, and both normal. Then there's anxiety disorder which people sometimes are diagnosed with , where anxiety takes over and becomes debilitating.

I often have anxiety.

A certain amount of anxiety is healthy. It helps one be caution.

There will always be people who self-diagnose, no matter what the condition. Some may be genuine, others not so much.

I'm one of the ones with a diagnosis from a doctor - I have generalised anxiety disorder and also suffer from panic attacks.

Mine is likely linked to my autism.

Anxiety is an emotion, the emotion that tells us something is too important to ignore. Very useful when you're about to leave your cave and almost forget your spear - anxiety triggers the imagination/memory of a sabre toothed tiger.

It might not feel comfortable but it is there for a purpose, we wouldn't survive for long without it. One (of many) issues surrounding anxiety in the last few years is that it's feared, even the tiniest twinge is seen as confirmation that there's something wrong with us and that we therefore must need medicating to stop that discomfort.

I'm not dismissing those people who's anxiety response is so out of kilter that it makes life unbearable - it's not only horrible but it can have a serious knock-on effect on short/long term physical health - but if understanding emotions were taught at school it would go a long way to dealing with the current MH problems.

My diagnoses are ADHD, Autism and complex PTSD. Along with those comes massive anxieties, but no, I don't have a specific anxiety disorder diagnosed. I would argue at anyone saying I'm self diagnosed though, it's just part of a wider condition.

which suggested that part of the problem is that we've made childhood too "nice", and kids are being sheltered from anything unpleasant - it leads to adults who have no framework for handling any kind of difficulty

I had a horrible childhood, certainly no mollycoddling in our house, and I've had some terrible (diagnosed) MH struggles. I don't know anyone who had a difficult childhood with good MH.

I also had a terrible childhood, hence the ptsd.

Growing up with undiagnosed autism and ADHD really does come damage ones mental health never mind in a neglectful situation.

My DD has diagnosed anxiety which has been debilitating for her, though thankfully less so now.
She can also get anxious about other things such as exams.
The two are quite separate.

I have been diagnosed with GAD, panic disorder and health anxiety, although back when I was diagnosed some 19 years back, it was called hypochondria - nice!!

I do see where you're coming from, it would be nice if people didn't throw the term around for 'normal' worries. I suppose it would be like someone saying "Ugh I'm so diabetic today after eating all that sugar yesterday".

It's like the overuse of "triggered", seemingly in every TikTok video my daughter watches! Everyone is "triggered" by something

I don't think it helps that a lot of medical professionals are quick to use the term anxiety either

And you should be able to ask questions without being jumped on. As an (officially diagnosed and medicated) anxiety sufferer, I wasn't offended 😉

Also, totally agree with @Agix, my panic attacks can come out of nowhere too, so can anxiety - when I feel absolutely fine! That's one major difference between having the disorder and just feeling a bit anxious I think

It particularly annoys me when they say they have an 'anxious child'. Does that child have actual anxiety? If he does, it is crippling and debilitating and he has my full sympathy. If he is just an oversensitive crybaby, it is an insult to all those children genuinely suffering.

I agree that day to day lie stresses are often grouped in with mental health issues. And in truth the difference is startling.

About twelve years ago I started having panic attacks, my mom couldn’t understand me, friends didn’t understand me, and I was eventually diagnosed with PND, which in fairness could have been a factor. Years of antidepressants that didn’t work, various talking therapy, and CBT, I was eventually told I have GAD and was put forward for a medical trial using THC & CBD to treat my panic attacks. It’s been life changing.

If you consider you may feel stressed if you are late for work and rushing to the train, that heart racing, high temperature, headache, I can get that feeling, ten fold, for no obvious reason whatsoever. Now I know my personal triggers and I have ways of calming myself down, (running and writing), and the medication I take now 100% takes the edge off, but I still have the odd panic attack.

It’s mildly amusing to me when I see people say they have anxiety and then go on to explain how they have a lot on. Yes that’s tough, but until you have had a panic attack where you quite honestly felt like you were dying, and then say you have anxiety. They are worlds apart and I hope no one has to deal with that to be honest.

That sounds absolutely awful, I'm glad you've found medication to help with it ❤️

Anxiety / worry/ stress is normal, but if it interferes with life functioning it becomes more pathological - on a spectrum.
Severe anxiety is debilitating and distressing and can be all pervading. not all mental health professionals share the diagnostic approach of labelling , generally psychiatry is moving away from rigid diagnosis. Psychologists' approach is more ' how is this person presenting and feeling, how is this explained by their life events etc?'
Pathologising normal emotions is something of a modern problem eg feeling down becomes depression and is medicated by GPs whereas medication will probably be ineffective for mild low mood.

People are also a lot more open about these things now, and it didn't really used to have a label.

I first became unwell in 2001 when I had a rather spectacular nervous breakdown. I was in secondary school at the time. I don't remember any of the other pupils having MH issues, or even any adults talking about it. Doesn't mean it wasn't rife. The first time I learnt about depression was when my GP diagnosed me with it, shortly after the breakdown. I only learnt about it in more depth from watching a special on depression on Ricki Lake, which I still remember vividly.

This kind of comment really pisses me off.

While there are some children who are pandered to, there are also plenty of them who are genuinely struggling.

Lots of conditions aren't diagnosed until the teenage years or even into adulthood. The lack of a diagnosis in a young child is pretty meaningless, really.

I do agree though that the normal spectrum of human emotions has become increasingly pathologised, possibly driven by US pharmaceutical companies who advertise 'a better life' in the form of their drugs on the television there.

It's not a competition but some of these comments would make you think it is, and it's not an insult to the more extreme sufferers to discuss it