LET'S TALK: Myths About Anxiety

One of my friends told me just yesterday that she likes the 'personal' posts I've been doing lately. So, hello to that friend. Hope you enjoy this post.

To those who don't know me, hi! I'm a complete and utter nerd who thinks it's a good idea to share her anxiety and health problems with the internet rather than actually doing posts about books like she's supposed to.

So, I want to talk a little bit more about anxiety and bust some common myths about anxiety, hopefully, while talking a little bit about my anxiety.

As always, the obligatory disclaimer: I'm talking about my experience with anxiety, and as you'll read on to see, anxiety is different for absolutely everybody. What I say might not be the same for someone else, etc etc.


Myth 1: Anxiety = Social anxiety

Ok, social anxiety is definitely a very common manifestation of anxiety, but a lot of people solely associate anxiety with social anxiety. I feel like this is perhaps due to media, where anxiety is most commonly shown in the context of social anxiety, if it's shown at all. In fact, there is a whole range of different kinds of anxiety someone can have. I, for example, suffer from health anxiety. So this is most definitely untrue, and it feels really awful when people just assume anxiety is solely social anxiety. It almost feels as if my anxiety isn't as valid.


Myth 2: You can "snap out of" anxiety

For some people, anxiety doesn't last long and people learn quite quickly how to control and manage their anxiety. But something I've wanted to tell SO MANY people since I developed my health anxiety is that telling someone to 'get a grip' doesn't make their anxiety disappear! If anything, it makes the person with anxiety feel guilty and like they are a burden on other people. It makes them feel like they are crazy, which is one of the worst things for someone suffering from anxiety to feel. Just don't ever say this to someone with anxiety.

It could take a few days, weeks, months, even years to deal with anxiety. It's taken me almost a year to fully get a handle on my anxiety to the point where I feel I can control and manage it. So just be patient.


Myth 3: Anxiety is the same for everyone

A lot of people try to simplify anxiety, to make it easier to understand, and seem to believe that everyone's anxiety is the same and everyone experiences anxiety in the same way. This is absolutely not true. I have friends who suffer from anxiety, and we experience anxiety completely differently. Everyone's brain is different, so why shouldn't everyone's anxiety be different?


Myth 4: You have to be prone to anxiety to develop it

This is absolutely false. Admittedly, my Turner Syndrome [which I'll do a post on if you want me to, just let me know] does make me prone to anxiety, and my mother and sister both suffered from anxiety in the past, but absolutely anyone can develop anxiety. All you need is the right trigger and you're off. Welcome to the matrix


Myth 5: Anxiety is a short-term thing

Anxiety is a lifelong thing, you just get better at controlling and managing it. Sure, I developed health anxiety last summer, but for a long time in my life, I suffered from separation anxiety. This resulted in some next-level homesickness when I went on school trips. So I've always sort of had anxiety.



Well, that's it! I really hope this helped. Be sure to share this post on social media if you liked it and check out the blog on Twitter @Reviewing4Teens.