Anxiety and stigmatization are they related?

[Howlan]

B Creech wrote:
> Guda LM wrote:
> > In my opinion, I believe people with anxiety disorders are inherently
> > stigmatized. From my personal experience growing up, we are always taught
> > stress is part of life and you have to be tough and resilient. The notion
> > is true in part, but also it encourages people to be quiet with their
> > struggles. A person who openly comes out and states their anxiety issues is
> > immediately deemed 'high-maintenance' or 'complicated'. These labels
> > themselves are a form of stigmaization.
> >
> > These unwritten rules are especially very strict for men. A man who openly
> > acknowledges his pain and seeks help is seen as weak, further leading to
> > stigmaization.
> >
> > I acknowledge things are currently changing, and mental health is starting
> > to be recognized as an important issue, but there's still a long way to go.
>
> I agree with you! Even in the medical field mental health is still misunderstood. I
> worked on a psych unit in a hospital for two years and it hurt me to see how even
> doctors and other nurses talked about the patients in that unit! Things are beginning
> to change some, but there definitely is a long way to go!

Yes, the main reason for this is that earlier the driving forces behind anxiety or stress were much less than it is today. With the advancement of the internet, we may be much closer to others than we are today but it has had a very negative effect on mental health. Especially public shaming is a disgraceful way of treating a fellow human being and has resulted in many people facing with high levels of stress that is simply disgusting.

[Howlan]

Astrolorraine wrote:
> Yes, there is the stigma of being self-centered or feeling sorry for
> oneself attached to talking about depression or anxiety. I'm willing to bet
> people go undiagnosed for years because they feel it's something they
> should get a handle on on their own, or they feel it's a normal part of
> their personality, as in "I'm an overthinker" or "I worry a
> lot".

Yeah, this indeed plays a major role in the neglect of mental illness that we can think of. The only possible way to overcome this is spreading awareness about the problem around local and incorporating the mental illness as a serious disease in schools to help people realize their significance.

[Joseph_ngaruiya]

After sharing my thoughts with a few friends about stigmatization and anxiety, I discovered that Gustavo addresses this issue. As an example, if you were stigmatized for any reason, you'd get stressed and anxious. Conversely, if you were anxious about whether you'll face stigmatization, you'd get stressed. This means that the two are intertwined.

[mpsmaster]

I think that depends. Some people are like bombs: they keep everything for themselves until they explode. This ones could have good relationships with others until the worst happen and people around don't understand and stigmatization could take place.

Others say what they feel without care or second though, sometimes hurting everybody around like a machine gun. Not everybody put up with this, they can be isolated for sure.

I maybe wrong, but tell the truth seems a good way: if you are about to explode about something you say so and release, and explain why you explode, apologise if is necessary. Truth about you humanity and frailty, if sincere, can do miracles.

[Samantha Gayle]

I think it can be several things. I think people believe that we are supposed to be living in this high stress world and not understanding when it has become a dangerous disorder. I also believe there is a stigma around it. From my own experience, I was embarrassed to come out about my anxiety and depression. I didn’t want to seem weak or out of control. I would lie on the tests my general doctor would give me yearly about depression/anxiety. I wanted everyone to believe I was “ok”. Society can look down on mental health and that was ingrained in me at an early age. I believe there is definitely stigma for some people.

[Sou Hi]

I think anxiety is part of the reason, but it depends. Like someone who is bullied will have two choices: To brace themselves and overcome the bullies, or to be stressed out over time and slowly think of themselves as worthless, like how the bullies label them. So I suppose it's important to have someone you can talk to. That way it will ease your heart and prevent further pressure.

[Lilyflower-x2]

Guda LM wrote:
> In my opinion, I believe people with anxiety disorders are inherently
> stigmatized. From my personal experience growing up, we are always taught
> stress is part of life and you have to be tough and resilient. The notion
> is true in part, but also it encourages people to be quiet with their
> struggles. A person who openly comes out and states their anxiety issues is
> immediately deemed 'high-maintenance' or 'complicated'. These labels
> themselves are a form of stigmaization.
>
> These unwritten rules are especially very strict for men. A man who openly
> acknowledges his pain and seeks help is seen as weak, further leading to
> stigmaization.
>
> I acknowledge things are currently changing, and mental health is starting
> to be recognized as an important issue, but there's still a long way to go.


I totally agree with you Guda. People who openly confess to having anxiety disorders are stigmatized. It is why most people would rather suffer in silence.

[Christabel Uzoamaka]

I think that anxiety and stigmatization are interrelated in this sense. Sometimes when a person suffers from anxiety disorder, they may find it difficult to seek help because of years of people telling them “oh but you worry too much, it’s probably nothing.” Years of brushing their feelings under the carpet may make them unable to seek proper help. Worse, they may not even realize that they’re suffering from a disorder.

[djr6090]

evraealtana wrote:
> I think that is likely part of it. Another part of it may be that people
> are stressed for so long that anxiety starts to feel normal, and therefore
> they never think that maybe their "normal" isn't actually normal
> after all. Maybe getting help is the silver lining after a breakdown
> following years of accumulated stress, during which time the patient didn't
> realize the load was getting slightly heavier with every passing day.
>
> It reminds me of the parable about the frog that went swimming in a cooking
> pot full of cool water. When the stove was lit, the fire warmed slowly
> enough that the frog didn't notice the changing temperature. Over time, the
> water got hotter and hotter without the frog being aware of it, until at
> last the frog was cooked.

Amazing how much stress the body can take before it screams for help! I found the sections that described the changes in psiology to be really enlightening.

[Joseph_ngaruiya]

mpsmaster wrote:
> I think that depends. Some people are like bombs: they keep everything for
> themselves until they explode. This ones could have good relationships with
> others until the worst happen and people around don't understand and
> stigmatization could take place.
>
> Others say what they feel without care or second though, sometimes hurting
> everybody around like a machine gun. Not everybody put up with this, they
> can be isolated for sure.
>
> I maybe wrong, but tell the truth seems a good way: if you are about to
> explode about something you say so and release, and explain why you
> explode, apologise if is necessary. Truth about you humanity and frailty,
> if sincere, can do miracles.

Sincerity goes a long way to solving malignant issues. If you'd be willing to share your problem with a confidant, it's already half solved. Hence I believe finding a confidant is a better way to avoid anxiety and stigmatization.

[Joseph_ngaruiya]

Sgpope01 wrote:
> I think it can be several things. I think people believe that we are
> supposed to be living in this high stress world and not understanding when
> it has become a dangerous disorder. I also believe there is a stigma around
> it. From my own experience, I was embarrassed to come out about my anxiety
> and depression. I didn’t want to seem weak or out of control. I would lie
> on the tests my general doctor would give me yearly about
> depression/anxiety. I wanted everyone to believe I was “ok”. Society can
> look down on mental health and that was ingrained in me at an early age. I
> believe there is definitely stigma for some people.

So true, the first step to eliminating stress and anxiety is acceptance. After which the thought of being stigmatized for your condition is eliminated.

[SeasonalBuddy]

I feel like there is still some work to be done to abolish stigmatization associated with anxiety and other mental health problems in general.

Most patients don't want to be labeled, and the doctors to misunderstand their patients all the time.

[MuthoniMuriithi]

people might be stressed but find themselves not seeking immediate solution to their problem perhaps because they have seen people around them who have experienced more than them and they are may be able to overcome them. They thus try to be strong so that not to be seen as weak. In this case stigmatization and stress come out to relate.

[Damis Seres Rodriguez]

Well, stigmatization when it comes to anxiety can be very real. The thing is that sometimes, they are the ones bringing them upon themselves. A little too often I would say. Anxiety makes people anxious about having anxiety, if that makes any sense. That in some cases, is enough to prevent them from seeking help in a life-time.

[Susmita Biswas]

I agree with the author that people often don't know that they have this problem. I think they should understand it first that they are suffering from anxiety. The author provided all the small signs. People should keep them in mind.