There’s a difference between throwing around the phrase, “Oh my gosh, this is giving me anxiety” and literally having anxiety over a trigger.
The fact that the first phrase is thrown around in such a nonchalant kind of way makes the second one harder to take seriously.
In the last few months, I’ve heard the similar story of people not having their anxiety taken seriously. Their anxiety freezes them in place, makes it hard for them to breathe, pushes them to leave a physical place, and yet their told, “just push past it” or “get over it, it’s not that serious.”
For those who are trying to manage anxiety on a daily basis it is very serious. It’s also not something they can just turn off.
I would know, I deal with it (to a lesser degree) every day.
Here are some tips for handling those who trivialize your anxiety:
1) Accept that it’s them NOT you.
They are the ones who are having a hard time dealing with your anxiety. Them having this hard time does not make your anxiety any less real and you are only responsible for your own reactions.
2) You DO NOT need to excuse yourself or your anxiety.
If you’re lucky enough to know what some of your triggers are, don’t feel bad about having to stay away from them. Yes, there will be times when you should put yourself in situations that give you anxiety, but these instances should be monitored by an expert and not by your friends trying to push you into a situation where you are uncomfortable.
3) It’s not that your family doesn’t care, it’s that they probably don’t understand.
If your family is one of the groups in your life trying to tell you to just get over your anxiety, you can probably trust they’re not saying it to be mean. In most cases they’ve probably just never dealt with anxiety on such a personal level and it scares them.
4) Do NOT feel guilty for asking for help or leaning on someone.
Asking for help whether from a parent, a friend, or an expert is not something to feel guilty about. Most of your friends will want you to lean on them. Your parents want to know that you’re healthy and well, so they’ll want to know how best to help you. Trying to handle a situation that’s gotten to much for you, all on your own will only make it harder to get better.
Would you add anything else to this list?
Photo: WeHeartIt
