Over 40 Million Americans Suffer From Anxiety | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

You May Not Have Anxiety, But Someone Close To You Does

Anxiety affects millions of Americans — even if you don't think you know someone who struggles, you do.

20
You May Not Have Anxiety, But Someone Close To You Does

Everybody feels anxious from time to time. It is a normal emotion that accompanies the stresses of school, work, and relationships. We panic about something we said in a conversation a long time ago, wondering how the recipient interpreted our words and if they think of us differently as a result. We worry about upcoming exams, papers, presentations, projects, events. We agonize over our life choices, wondering if we're on the right path.

However, for most of us, these feelings don't consume us completely.

Anxiety disorder is a serious mental health disorder that is characterized by persistent feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily routine and activities.

Those suffering from anxiety are unable to set aside worries, feel anxiety extremely out of proportion to the triggering event. Symptoms include restlessness, headaches, inability to focus, racing thoughts, irritability, and fatigue. There is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but other types include:

  • Social anxiety — an intense fear of public criticism, embarrassment, or humiliation that occurs in social situations such as parties, making small talk, giving presentations, or being assertive or confrontational.
  • Specific phobias — magnified, intense, and sometimes irrational fear of something specific that can trigger excessive panic.
  • Panic disorder — intense, acute, overwhelming, uncontrollable feelings of anxiety accompanied by a range of physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and excessive perspiration. Though panic attacks are also a symptom of other types of anxiety, recurring and excessive panic attacks in a certain period of time is an indication of a panic disorder.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) — persistent, unwanted, intrusive, and irrational thoughts that cause anxiety and can only be curbed through repeated behaviors or rituals (i.e. obsessive fear of germs causes compulsive hand-washing).
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — upsetting thoughts, flashbacks, dreams, or fears relating to a past traumatic event such as war, disaster, assault, etc.

Watching those close to me suffer from anxiety has illustrated to me just how real this disorder is, and how it is much more destructive is it than simple feelings of worry. It can cause other physical ailments, and prevent one from accomplishing simple tasks that require almost no thought for the rest of us.

Those suffering from anxiety need not only support from their loved ones but also a great deal of patience and sympathy.

Having others become frustrated about their anxiety or not take it seriously only worsens the condition and intensifies the pain. Do what you can to accommodate their feelings while treating them as normally as possible. With the right support network, people with anxiety can still live relatively ordinary lives.

Anxiety sufferers don't have to feel like they're alone. Evident from the plethora of relatable posts and stories shared on social media, it is a relatively common illness among us (over 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety). Nevertheless, it is important not to romanticize the illness or undermine those who truly suffer from it by claiming we "have anxiety" about something, when truly it is just a temporary worry.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179075
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6253
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451805
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22914
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments