Nowadays, almost everyone suddenly has "bad anxiety."
Whether it's test anxiety, social anxiety or traveling anxiety, the more stressed out a person is, the more anxiety they claim to have. While some may actually have anxiety disorders, it is so important for the people who do not to recognize the difference between their stress and anxiety.
When everyone uses the words "anxiety" and "anxious" so loosely, it diminishes the awful and life-altering effects of an anxiety disorder.
1. You don't want anxiety.
Whether you think its "cool" or "trendy' to have anxiety, or want anxiety medication, it's just not... Anyone who actually has anxiety would do anything to live a life filled with reasonable worries. Anxiety is not something that you wear like a badge of honor.
2. Anyone who brags about their anxiety probably does not have it.
Everyone who has anxiety experiences it in different ways— but most likely, if someone has anxiety issues, they do not like to broadcast it. Whether it is an anxiety attack or just anxious feelings, you tend to isolate yourself to focus on control.
3. It's embarrassing.
You have no idea how humiliating it feels to alter your life because of anxiety. If you're thinking, "then don't," it's not that simple but I truly wish it was. Anxiety takes over your body in so many ways and you are pretty much handing all control of your feelings and decisions to your anxiety. This can cause you to miss out on social events or any other event that brings out roots of your anxiety.
4. You're making it seem like a joke.
Every time you say you're feeling anxious when you have no idea what you're actually talking about, you're ruining it for everyone who has anxiety. Using anxiety as an excuse makes people assume that everyone is using it as an excuse. You wouldn't claim to have a physical disease if you did not actually have it, would you? So why do that with anxiety?
5. It's not your fault.
I know it's not intentional or vicious, and I understand that when you're nervous you may just assume that's what anxiety feels like. But I am here to tell you that feeling nervous for a test or for a situation is completely nervous. But that does not mean you're feeling anxious.
The most important thing to take out of this is to be conscious of the conditions you are claiming to have. You have no idea how anxiety makes someone feel, so don't claim to have it just because you have butterflies in your stomach.
