Anxiety is the new hysteria

[Bluehatter]

Discuss.

I think that is OPs point.

That women's complaints in the past were written off as "female hysteria", without being actually listened to. It's incredibly patronising and frustrating and, as you say, outdated.

However in todays world, the same is happening, but women are being diagnosed with anxiety instead. They are still being ignored and still facing the same barriers to getting appropriate medical attention.

This.

Yes, overweight too! @WormBum

I agree OP.

I’m under gynaecology as I’ve suffered from excruciating periods since I was 12. As well as leg pain, back pain, painful sex, nausea, vomiting, dysmenorrhea, low moods and irritability whenever I have a period. Which are extremely irregular.

I’m now 30, with no real answers. I’ve had a laparoscopy (which took 30 minutes) and the gynae said nothing found, just adhesions on your ovaries and you’re constipated. No further treatment needed. They are now just tell me to try different methods of contraception.

All this over the years, where I’ve had lots of time off school, work. Missed out on holidays and celebrations because I’ve been too unwell and in pain - have caused a massive amount of anxiety and depression for me. GPs have diagnosed me with both GAD and depression. Tried me on many antidepressants and counselling.

I’m convinced my moods are 100% linked to my gynae issues and perhaps a hormonal imbalance. And instead of investigating my physical symptoms further and listening to me, they just label it as me having “mental health issues”.

Sorry I’ve waffled on.

I've got hypertension and have been put on beta blockers - so yes, still hasn't gone away even after having a pulmonary embolism and HR of 133 as well as the hyperthroid - obviously the "anxiety" diagnosis must trump them all.

I have had many things blamed on anxiety...
I have a diagnosis of EUPD, and that was blamed for a broken foot (I rolled my ankle on the bottom step)... not MH related at all.
I have seen the front page of my notes in A&E/GP/walk in.... and alongside my address and basics.. there is a line that says "Patient Alert - Personality Disorder".. like is is a fucking allergy. It doesn't even say what PD. And that is what I am up against.

It's a horrible diagnosis EUPD. Once you get that label you are assumed to be potentially violent promiscuous histrionic and delusional. Never to be taken seriously again. A huge proportion of wome diagnosed EUPD or BPD are actually autistic and have no PD at all.

I totally agree!
BPD/EUPD never really gelled with me, so now I am pursuing ASD and also ADHD too.

So sorry to hear you're not being listened to.

I believe the official terms are medical gaslighting and diagnostic overshadowing:

https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AUK23_Medical-Gaslighting-Report.pdf

It happens far too often in cancer patients who sadly get fobbed off until it has advanced to the later stages, becoming far more difficult to treat:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180523-how-gender-bias-affects-your-healthcare

Looks like someone was given an assignment for the pros and cons, and is relying on MN for their creativity.

Jog on.

Well prove me wrong.

You have literally offered no insight on your own topic, other than elaborating slightly more on your original question (if you can even call it that!). You've simply said that it 'exists' and might not be being treated properly (which can be said for all illnesses!) - despite being asked numerous times for your own insight!

So either, as I said, you're a student looking for answers... OR ...this 'discussion' has a very real foundation, in which case, a bit of context is necessary. I don't think that's too much to ask.

This isn't about me @C1N1C. You have no right to demand I talk about my personal life.

You discuss

This

There has been a significant increase in this diagnosis. I have approximately 5 horrific and debilitating conditions. Multiple autoimmune conditions and a genetic condition that has no blood test and is incredibly difficult to now diagnose. I have been told anxiety and even with a multitude of objective problems, they still pull out the anxiety card.

I know of many women and a few men who have similar debilitating and crippling problems as me yet have recently been told FND. It's unbelievable but it's really happening.

I have significant issues with this BPD diagnosis also. The number of people who discovered they were autistic. It's lazy, gaslighting, uninformed, ignorant shit. And it wouldn't be so terrifying if they didn't hold so much power when they come out with this crap ' anxiety ' ' bpd' ' fnd'.

I agree to some extent. I know it happens and had it happened to me.

However, there are so many posts on here from people totally overreacting about relatively minor health problems in themselves or their children, who will admit themselves they have health anxiety. So that is definitely a thing that medical professionals must see.

I have anxiety but it was caused and is triggered by specific things, it’s fucking debilitating and exhausting at times. I work really hard to try and live my life and I’ve actively engaged to get better, but it does my head in that it’s such as overused word when people have a mild fear of stuff. Fear is not the same as anxiety, fear is a normal human reaction. The over use of the word has made people actually ill a joke, same as the seemingly interchangeable words “depressed” and “sad”.

I agree with you OP that a lot of people who are diagnosed with anxiety have other medical issues causing it, but they have just had the typical lazy diagnosis by doctors instead of proper investigation. There is still a lot of misogyny in women’s health care.

I think that even when it's bloody obvious it isn't 'anxiety' women can still be told that it is.

I was having concerning symptoms and had an MRI of my head. I was called back in and shown the scan and told that my brain was bleeding. The fuckwit consultant suggested I come back in a week for a CT scan and tried to send me home, and when I said I wasn't happy with that, was told that he supposed that he could try to get my into hospital have a CT scan that night as 'clearly I was very anxious, and if that would alleviate my anxiety a bit then perhaps it would help me'. Hours later I was having brain surgery...

I got diagnosed with general anxiety and health anxiety, turns out I have MS! Had to pay thousands out of pocket privately to find that out.

Thanks NHS!

I had to pay to investigate and diagnose 4 conditions. It's just terrifying. It doesn't feel like we have progressed much.

Not sure if you mean it's the new buzz word andceveryone is being diagnosed with it/self-diagnosing etc or you mean doctors are fobbing women off with it as the modern day word for hysteria ?
I was wary for a long time myself as everyone seems to have it these days until one day I was at work physically shaking, crying, not knowing what to do with myself - it had nothing to do with my work situation that day - I think it's a culmination of being in our 40s, having teens, aging parents, husbands that aren't always totally on board, fear of what the the future holds, what's expected of us, finances etc I fear this is why so many women in the 45+ age group go missing

you mean doctors are fobbing women off with it [anxiety] as the modern day word for hysteria ?

Yes, this is what I mean, not that anxiety isn't being treated correctly or that it's being over diagnosed (which it is, but that's another discussion).