Is it just a fear of something, or is it something more?
There’s many different types of anxiety, there’s panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific kinds of phobias, PTSD, and then just the general anxiety disorder. Everyone experiences some sort of disorder in their lives like maybe being nervous before a job interview or being stressed about an upcoming test, but also, there are few people who constantly live with it. “Anxiety disorders, however, are different. They can cause such distress that it interferes with a person’s ability to lead a normal life,” (WebMD)
What is it like to live with anxiety? It’s like walking down a dark and scary alley without knowing what is awaiting you, being the only person that knows the world is ending but everyone calls you crazy. You feel crazy, sometimes you feel like the whole world is against you, sometimes you cry and you don’t even know why you’re crying. Anxiety can be something as little as not knowing which cereal to eat for breakfast. “With anxiety, you can get called a “drama queen” or just told you “want attention,” (Jones) Anxiety causes you to lose sleep, you can get muscle tension, dizziness, or sweatiness or coldness of hands/feet.
“The exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown; but anxiety disorders — like other forms of mental illness — are not the result of personal weakness, a character flaw, or poor upbringing. As scientists continue their research on mental illness, it is becoming clear that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain and environmental stress,” (WebMD) Anxiety is a body’s natural defense to danger, like mentioned previously, everyone has some form of anxiety at some point in their lives, it’s just like an alarm. “Many people with anxiety disorders also suffer from depression at some point. Anxiety and depression are believed to stem from the same biological vulnerability, which may explain why they so often go hand-in-hand. Since depression makes anxiety worse (and vice versa), it’s important to seek treatment for both conditions,” (HelpGuide)
In conclusion, anxiety is something everyone gets at one point or another, but an anxiety disorder is different. It makes you feel some horrible emotions, you feel alone and it drags you down, when having anxiety you need to make sure you have something that makes you happy so you can lift yourself up.
“Anxiety.” – Helpguide.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
“Anxiety Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
“My Nightmares and Flashbacks Interfere With My Family Life.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.