Anxiety has riddled my existence for as long as I can remember. The events that I went through as a child all the way up into adulthood, and even now keep the creature that is anxiety very alive in my life. However, I did not get diagnosed with anxiety until I turned 18 and could insist on getting the diagnosis and medication for it. My family had the belief that anxiety was “all in your head” and the way you thought to handle things. It was a “hush-hush” taboo topic along with other mental health disorders. That was the way they were raised and they didn’t know any better. I don’t blame them for not knowing any better, as it was just that. A few key events that made the creature of anxiety come to life in me were:
- Going through a nasty custody battle between my father and mother for me and my brother at such a young age
- Experiencing the fear and uncertain feelings I had when my father would have hypoglycemia as a Type 1 Diabetic, from a young child all the way to being grown with him
- Getting into a bad vehicle accident because of my dad having a medical emergency while I witnessed everything at 9 (almost 10 years old)
- Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes myself and dealing with all that it comes with
- Learning to be “different” in school and from my peers as well as learning that I would have to advocate for myself
- Being truly bullied for the first time in my life about my looks
- Going to high school & not having any friends – having to eat lunch in the clinic every day because I didn’t want to eat alone…
- Struggling with blood sugar roller coasters thanks to teenage hormones and being “self-sufficient” enough to handle things on my own
- Not getting asked to any school dances
- Graduating and only having 2 friends come to my grad party when the rest was distant family
- Those are just the events that happened in my youth – up until I graduated high school
- There have been quite a few more key events after all of that happened that continue to grow my anxiety but I am learning ways to cope with it better
A little about Anxiety and Panic Disorder below:
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. Mild levels of anxiety can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention. Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness and involve excessive fear or anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders. They affect nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. However, anxiety disorders are treatable with a number of psychotherapeutic treatments. Treatment helps most people lead normal productive lives.
Anxiety refers to anticipation of a future concern and is more associated with a fight or flight reaction – either staying to fight or leaving to escape danger.
Fear is an emotional response to an immediate threat and is more associated with a fight or flight reaction – either staying to fight or leaving to escape danger.
Anxiety disorders can cause people to try to avoid situations that trigger or worsen their symptoms. Job performance, schoolwork, and personal relationships can be affected. In general, for a person to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the fear or anxiety must:
- Be out of proportion to the situation or be age-inappropriate
- Hinder their ability to function normally
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder involves persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily activities. This ongoing worry and tension may be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as restlessness, feeling on edge or easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension or problems sleeping. Often the worries focus on things such as job responsibilities, family health, or minor matters such as chores, car repairs, or appointments.
Panic Disorder
The core symptom of panic disorder is recurrent panic attacks, an overwhelming combination of physical and psychological distress. During an attack, several of these symptoms can occur in combination:
- Palpitations, pounding heart or rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Feeling shortness of breath or smothering sensations
- Chest pain
- Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint
- Feeling of choking
- Numbness or tingling
- Chills or hot flashes
- Nausea or abdominal pain
- Feeling detached
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of dying
Because the symptoms can be quite severe, some people who experience a panic attack may believe they are having a heart attack or some other life-threatening illness. They may go to a hospital emergency department. Panic attacks maybe expected, such as a response to a feared object, or unexpected, apparently occurring for no reason. The average age for onset of panic disorder is 20-24 years old. Panic attacks may occur with other mental disorders such as depression or PTSD.
**disclaimer: all info about anxiety and panic disorder is from psychiatry.org**
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