I was recently discussing anxiety with a family member who is a close, personal friend of the disorder. While she doesn’t experience the symptoms on a daily basis, the disorder is ever-present. Sort of like those of us with asthma – we may not have trouble breathing daily, but we are never free of the disease.
We simply manage it to the best of our abilities.
The thing that fascinates me the most about anxiety is that it used to be something you seldom heard about. I’ve often wondered, as many have, what has caused the obvious surge in anxiety disorders. Through reading a great deal about anxiety (when multiple people in your family suffer from a particular disorder, you pretty much make yourself an expert on the subject), I’ve found that this is a disorder that is FAR from a “one size fits all” situation. One person’s symptoms, in fact, may not even remotely resemble another person’s.
What’s more, the things that cause “flare ups” or even “attacks” greatly differ as well.
One of the things that works against individuals who have legitimate, clinical anxiety disorders is the frustrating fact that countless people are claiming that they have “anxiety disorders” when, in fact, they simply feel “anxious” at particular times or in particular situations.
When I had to give a speech in college, for example, I felt anxious – to the point of nearly feeling nauseous (I hate public speaking!). However, I don’t – nor did I then – have anxiety. I simply felt anxious because of the situation.
The fact that so many people take it upon themselves to say they have an anxiety disorder when they actually don’t does a disservice to the men and women who actually battle the disorder.
The infographic below gives a lot of insight into how our digital world can effect anxiety. It’s actually an angle I had never considered and it’s downright fascinating.
Diet can also play a role in anxiety disorders. I’ve read MANY, MANY accounts where cutting out gluten and sugar have greatly improved people’s symptoms.
When you live with a particular disease or disorder, it’s more than worth it to try any approach you can. After all, any relief is just that….. relief! – Joi (“Joy”)
