Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by significant feelings of anxiety and fear. Anxiety is a worry about future events, while fear is a reaction to current events. These feelings may cause physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate and shakiness. I suffer from it everyday. Today I will talk about the myths vs the truth surrounding anxiety.
First Myth
Myth: social anxiety is the same as being shy.
Truth: social anxiety and being shy are not the same. Social anxiety is a real disorder and can be extremely debilitating and isolating.
Second Myth
Myth: it's obvious if someone has an anxiety disorder.
Truth: anxiety disorders are often not noticeable. Sometimes, the symptoms of anxiety are internal and may not always present as a physical reaction.
Third Myth
Myth: anxiety isn't a real illness. It's just a mindset that can be changed.
Truth: anxiety is very real and legitimate. Anxiety disorders go beyond the general worry of day to day life, and they can make simple tasks very difficult.
Fourth myth
Myth: if you eat well, exercise, avoid stimulants and live a healthy lifestyle, your anxiety will go away.
Truth: while maintaining a healthy lifestyle is always beneficial, it's not going to ''cure'' your anxiety. You also need to learn coping mechanisms and work on managing your anxiety.
Fifth myth
Myth: being anxious is the same thing as having an anxiety disorder.
Truth: everyone experiences feelings and anxiousness from time to time. However, having an anxiety disorder means that those feelings of anxiousness happen very often and start to impact the life of those experiencing it.
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