Sweaty palms, shaking body, and heart-pounding rapidly. A feeling of discomfort, emptiness, and the feeling of a continuous never-ending battle. Nervousness rushing through your body and preventing you from completing easy everyday tasks. Shortness of breath, I-I freeze, can’t breathe and lose all control. Anxiety. Do I need help? Will they understand?
There are so many hidden signs of anxiety in teenagers that we just don’t know about. Especially in young teens, anxiety can often be seen like regular teenage struggles but deep below lies a disorder. A real and severe disorder that affects our mental health and well being. Anxiety is a severe illness, but how can those who face this seek help when this topic goes unnoticed by many? In order to help someone battling anxiety disorders, one must first understand it.
Life with anxiety is a struggle that affects our body, thoughts, and behavior. There are many types of disorders such as Separation Anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder. Unfortunately, anxiety is often mistaken by the experiences of occasional nervousness which is part of our day to day lives. For example, being nervous before a job interview or a presentation. The difference between the two would be that although we all get nervous at times the person with an anxiety disorder has to live with it constantly. It doesn’t just go away.
Understanding anxiety is very important. When someone has anxiety not only does it affect the person, but it also affects those around them. Anxiety disorders are actually treatable through some therapeutic procedures, but most people who have anxiety don’t get these treatments that can benefit them. According to Medical News Today, 40 million people in the United States are affected by anxiety disorders but only 36.9% of those people receive treatment. Anxiety goes unrecognized by many, which is why it’s extremely important to raise awareness of it, so we can help those around us.
Helping someone with anxiety can be very intimidating especially if someone you love is facing panic attacks, fear, and has trouble completing simple tasks that, to you, may come naturally. If understanding anxiety isn’t easy then coping with it isn’t any different. Worldwide, there’s an estimated amount of 240 million people living with anxiety disorders (Anxiety and Depression Association).
There are many misconceptions about anxiety. It’s not just “in our head” & people with anxiety can’t just “get over it”; it’s a mental illness. Fears are generated, simple tasks become harder, and it makes an impact in your life preventing you from functioning in your life. Don’t be naive about a serious topic such as anxiety. You may not see it, but you truly never know what one is feeling and going through.
Don’t judge those with anxiety; help them. Try to help them and understand them. Anxiety is a battle that cannot be won if people do not understand it. People with anxiety are too often misunderstood when they shouldn’t be. It takes time and patience to understand anxiety and to know exactly in what ways you can offer your help.
