In 2013 alone, more than 3 million Canadians had anxiety sickness and over 27% stated that the disorder affected their lifestyle. Anxiety disorders are increasingly affecting many individuals in the country. The worst part is that having anxiety is often labeled as exaggeration, selfishness, laziness or an attempt to get attention.
Due to the stigma associated with anxiety disorders, it has become so hard to open up to family and friends. Where do you even begin? The idea of how to explain anxiety to loved ones is so hard that most people suffering from anxiety prefer to keep it to themselves.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is defined as an emotion that is characterized by worrying thoughts, feelings of tension, and physical changes such as increased blood pressure. Occasional anxiety is expected in life. For example, you might feel anxious before important decisions, when faced with problems at work or before taking a test.
This feeling typically goes away within no time but for a person with anxiety disorders, it only gets worse. If this continues for too long, it’s likely to affect your daily activities such as school work, relationships, etc. The symptoms will vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder.
What Are the Major Types of Anxiety Disorders?
Each anxiety disorder is different, thus, understanding the type of disorder you are suffering from will make it easy for you to explain to your loved ones. The main types of anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder- it’s characterized by exaggerated worry, tension, and chronic anxiety even without provocation.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder- it’s characterized by repetitive behaviors and recurrent, unwanted thoughts.
- Panic Disorder- it’s a disorder that causes panic attacks even when there is no danger.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- it’s triggered by shocking or terrifying experiences.
- Social Phobia – It’s intense anxiety that is characterized by the fear of rejection or being judged.
Some of these disorders can be treated at home while severe anxiety disorders need medication and clinical supervision.
How to Explain Anxiety to People
Now that you know the different classifications of anxiety, how do you explain your condition to your partner?
When explaining anxiety to others it is not uncommon to feel that something is getting lost or mixed up in ‘translation’. To them, it doesn’t make sense and to you, it feels like they will never get it.
This makes it even harder to talk about your struggle, especially if your anxiety is paired with depression. Talking about your anxiety is like sharing a part of yourself and it’s the part that you prefer to keep to yourself.
Explaining your anxiety is hard because you are trying to focus on your feelings. The feeling of anxiety is almost impossible to communicate the feeling of anxiety without reference to an experience that the person has had.
Therefore, the best way to explain is with analogies and metaphors. Here’s how to explain anxiety and gain some peace.
1. Write it down
Trying to explain your anxiety disorder to a third party is always a tricky conversation. Writing down how you feel will help you prepare.
Talking about your anxiety can also be a trigger to your anxiety disorder. Therefore, writing a letter that details your thoughts might help. This will ease the conversation when you decide to have a face-to-face conversation with them.
2. Explain Your Symptoms
To avoid any misunderstandings, help people around you to understand the emotional and physical symptoms of your anxiety disorder by communicating when a symptom arises. Describe the scenarios that trigger your symptoms of anxiety. Also, explain any conditions that might create these symptoms.
3. Share What Happens
Try to explain to your close circle how you respond to your symptoms of anxiety. Your partner, family or friend will feel the need to offer their assistance when your anxiety increases.
Talk to them and share what you feel they should and shouldn’t do. This will give them a better understanding of how best to respond in the future.
4. Talk About Your Trigger Words
Trigger words are phrases or words that cause negative emotional reactions. They differ from person to person and could be the cause of your heightened anxiety. Familiarize your friend, partner, and family with all the situations and words that trigger your anxiety.
5. Come up with Coping Mechanisms
Discussing your situation with your loved ones will help but it doesn’t cover everything. You will still need to come up with coping mechanisms, especially for your partner. Help your partner distinguish between relationship problems and anxiety-induced symptoms.
Things That Are Commonly Misunderstood About Anxiety
One of the biggest struggles of dealing with anxiety disorders is the many things that people misunderstand. These misconceptions make it even harder for people dealing with anxiety. Here are some of the common myths:
1. People with Anxiety Are Weak
While some anxiety disorders stem from fear, it doesn’t define the person dealing with the disorder. Fear is a component of several panic disorders but it is not the only component. Therefore, you should help them overcome their fear as opposed to mocking them.
2. Anxiety Stems from a Difficult Childhood
It’s a common misconception that anxiety is triggered by trauma or bad experiences from difficult childhoods. While childhood experiences might have an influence on your anxiety, it’s doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the cause of your anxiety. A big percentage of people dealing with anxiety disorders actually had a great childhood.
3. A Drink Will Help Take the Edge Off
While drinking to ease your anxiety certainly helps, it’s only a short term reprieve. It will help you forget what you are going through but it doesn’t address the underlying issue. In fact, drinking only makes it worse and might reinforce your anxiety.
Why Is It Important to Learn How to Explain Anxiety?
The first step to seeking assistance from family and friends is learning how to explain anxiety. Help them understand how it feels every time you have an anxiety attack.
Explain to them what to do when this happens. Also, educate them on the trigger words and the things they shouldn’t do.
If you are struggling with anxiety disorders, book an appointment with us for professional help.