How do you know if someone has anxiety?
Why do people not always know they have an anxiety disorder?
The majority of people don’t actually recognise anxiety when they are experiencing it. There are many reasons for this such as:
Some people are aware of the physical symptoms they are experiencing but not link them to anxiety.
Some people assume they are simply stressed. It can be very easy to blame the way you are feeling on stress!
Many people are very good at putting on ‘masks’. They can seem fine on the outside, hiding their anxiety, and can try to convince themselves, as well as others that they are okay.
And some people think they are abnormal, weird and alone in the way they are feeling, rather than having a common mental health disorder. Unfortunately there is still a stigma attached to mental health issues, especially anxiety. This can lead to people feeling more anxious!
There are many symptoms that can be attributed to anxiety, another reason why it can be hard to tell if someone has anxiety. Look at last weeks journal post for more information on what anxiety is, and it’s symptoms.
How common is anxiety?
Did you know that 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem of some kind every year? 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem like anxiety and depression in any given week in England. The actual number of people suffering is likely to be higher.
In terms of anxiety, 8 in 100 people are specifically diagnosed with a mix of anxiety and depression and 6 in 100 people with Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). This is a lot of people!
So the chances are, if you suspect someone has anxiety, there is a high chance they do.
If you or someone you know is experiencing anxiety, understanding more about what it is can be helpful to normalise the experience. Know that you are not alone in how you are feeling.
Look out for the next blog post coming soon, which is about what can lead to anxiety disorders and how to help symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety is an area of expertise for me, and something I am passionate about helping people with. If you feel you would benefit from some professional, help I
can offer you a safe, non-judgemental, warm space to help you to explore, understand and give voice to your thoughts, feelings, emotions and experiences.
You don’t have to do it alone.