Anxiety and stigmatization are they related?

[abfraw310]

Speaking from a personal perspective, I did not realize I had anxiety until I had a breakdown of sorts in my early thirties . I ended up having a severe panic attack but was convinced I was dying, which led to me seeking help.

However, in hindsight, there were many times I had shown signs of anxiety prior to that. Yet, I was not aware enough to seek help. I just felt like everyone probably experienced it and I just needed to get over it.

Now that I have received treatment for the anxiety I experience, I know that I -and many others- believe you must have a terrible life to seek help. Or, that you’re just not cut out for life if you need medication to survive it. This- of course- is a silly notion. Yet, it’s a very common thought process.

From a medical perspective, when I worked as an RN for a Geri-psych unit, many people mentioned that they would’ve never sought help because their generation was taught to tough it out. “Big boys don’t cry”, “You’re weak if you need help” and all of that jazz. It was interesting to see the difference between the older generation’s awareness compared to the younger ones. And, though things have changed a lot, we are still a long way from dropping the stigma of admitting you need help or accepting mental health issues.

[MajestyBooky]

Anxiety is still a condition that is misunderstood and misdiagnosed. With thee misunderstanding comes stigmatization.

So yes. I think they are related.

[Maríe Wamakima]

Anxiety and stress are two conditions that involve the mind and the heart. I think the main reason most individuals don't seek help or talk about it early is that it involves finding someone you can trust. It's not easy opening up about your weaknesses, and although stigmatization may also be prevalent, I wouldn't say its the main reason.

Exactly my thoughts, anxiety itself heightens when an individual is introduced to unfamiliar situations. Finding a therapist and confiding to them is a new and an uncomfortable situation. I believe a person would rather live with the anxiety than seek professional help.

[twinkle09]

I think they are related to a certain extent. A person suffering from stress and having anxiety attacks is often called a weak person in today's world,one who cannot cope with situations. That stops many people from accepting their fights with anxiety,for fear of being called a 'weak willed' person. But the society is changing slowly and accepting the importance of empathy and realising the importance of EQ.

[Laurakish]

Yes there are related. but they are different. Everybody is prone to anxiety. we feel anxious time to time especially during times of stress. Stigmatization on the other hand could be looked at as clinical depression, tabled with disgrace or shame. Anxiety would lead to stigmatization where one would have a hard time seeking help.

[Fazzier]

I totally agree that anxiety and stigmatization are related. Stigmatization can lead to anxiety, and the inverse is also true in some cases. So it is very accurate to infer that some people may fail to seek psychological help due to the stigmatization they are experiencing.

[Nkoo]

I think people living with an anxiety disorder for so long are not necessarily facing stigmatization. It may be that those people can't recognize the fact that the symptoms they are tolerating can be alleviated and treated. Sometimes they attribute those symptoms to other illnesses because they are unaware that anxiety and stress are treatable. Because they are unaware and undiagnosed, they live with the disorders for so long and it becomes a way of life, except, they are eventually diagnosed and treated, one way or the other.

[Howlan]

I think people living with an anxiety disorder for so long are not necessarily facing stigmatization. It may be that those people can't recognize the fact that the symptoms they are tolerating can be alleviated and treated. Sometimes they attribute those symptoms to other illnesses because they are unaware that anxiety and stress are treatable. Because they are unaware and undiagnosed, they live with the disorders for so long and it becomes a way of life, except, they are eventually diagnosed and treated, one way or the other.

I think today is less due to the fact, that they are not aware of the stress and anxiety more like they do not want to come in terms with it. As they feel that they do not want to get dependant on medications and they are too busy to practice any natural remedy. As today stress is essentially part of your life and you need to at some point come to terms with it.

[Howlan]

I totally agree that anxiety and stigmatization are related. Stigmatization can lead to anxiety, and the inverse is also true in some cases. So it is very accurate to infer that some people may fail to seek psychological help due to the stigmatization they are experiencing.

I really fail to see people getting stigmatized due to anxiety alone. In today's day and age, anxiety is something that is a part of everyone's life. So why do you people will stigmatize others facing the same problems?

[Howlan]

Yes there are related. but they are different. Everybody is prone to anxiety. we feel anxious time to time especially during times of stress. Stigmatization on the other hand could be looked at as clinical depression, tabled with disgrace or shame. Anxiety would lead to stigmatization where one would have a hard time seeking help.

There are many reasons for stigmatization. I think the biggest reason for it is the lack of a person to help confide in. Having a peer in whom you can confide in or gain a common ground is something that will help you get away from stigmatization.

[Howlan]

I think they are related to a certain extent. A person suffering from stress and having anxiety attacks is often called a weak person in today's world,one who cannot cope with situations. That stops many people from accepting their fights with anxiety,for fear of being called a 'weak willed' person. But the society is changing slowly and accepting the importance of empathy and realising the importance of EQ.

Yes, it is really an old age concept which is slowly but surely getting less and less popular. This is excellent for the future but I cannot deny it is nonexistent today. Coming to it do you think can help a person most while they are getting stigmatized?

[Suesea]

Yes, the stigma of mental illness is alive and well in the US. Even doctors are known to mistreat patients who have a mental illness (MI) diagnosis. Their internal bias, or subconscious bias, may automatically assume a patients symptoms are related to the MI diagnosis and therefore cause a patient further harm. The harm might be a condescending visit where the patient is basically treated like a child and sent away. This would cause the individual emotional harm and more anxiety, or it could be the doctor simply ignores the symptoms described by the patient and the patient's physical illness worsens causing him/her harm.

The US is especially bad at caring for the mentally ill because people who are disabled are not typical rich or making somebody else rich. Many mentally ill people are homeless or incarcerated as there are not enough beds for the mentally ill in appropriate care facilities. Capitalism's failure is empathy for the vulnerable and weak among us. These people are not less valuable as human beings, but they often are not as able to contribute as much to society.

[Howlan]

Anxiety and stress are two conditions that involve the mind and the heart. I think the main reason most individuals don't seek help or talk about it early is that it involves finding someone you can trust. It's not easy opening up about your weaknesses, and although stigmatization may also be prevalent, I wouldn't say its the main reason.

Exactly my thoughts, anxiety itself heightens when an individual is introduced to unfamiliar situations. Finding a therapist and confiding to them is a new and an uncomfortable situation. I believe a person would rather live with the anxiety than seek professional help.

Yes, and that is because some people have a hard time confiding in a stranger they cannot find common ground with, or simply fail to trust. Apart from that, I think getting an unbiased opinion on your own thoughts and feelings is something great and will definitely help you. If it comes from something you trust and respect it makes it better.

[Howlan]

I think stigmatization can cause Anxiety. Mostly Social-Phobia (Social Anxiety), due to the elevated feeling of unworthy. Which can be triggered by stigma.

I agree, social anxiety disorders hinder the process of stress management. No individuals who feel unworthy hardly seek help for fear of being stigmatized.

Yes, that is true. But I think if it is someone whom you trust, like a family or a loved one, you will open up, and it will result in your own personal growth and also help you solve the problem at hand.

[Adebi]

People are scared by what they don't understand and because of this people with problems tend to keep them inside out of fear from being labelled as different and that s why so many people suffer from anxiety and never tell anyone