There is a prominent stigma in society concerning mental illness that is including anxiety. It is believed by many that it is not a real medical condition, this is perhaps why there is not much awareness. Around 30% of the 3 million people who have anxiety in the UK don’t seek help. In addition, those who do not seek treatment may not know of the many ways they can calm their anxiety on their own. Although some might not recognize a mental illness due to the stigma surrounding it. For example, those who have anxiety may feel as though if they are open about it then they will be socially excluded due to people seeing them as “crazy”. However, in reality, many people suffer from this and are not “crazy” so they try to cope in silence in fear of rejection. The awareness of anxiety can be hard to put across to the public as the illness itself is ‘invisible’, although there can be physical symptoms. Due to it being invisible a stereotype has risen that people with anxiety are looking for attention when they are “faking” their symptoms. This makes people ignorant as they do not recognize it for what it really is, a real mental illness.
Anxiety is the feeling of unease or worry, when there is nothing to feel uneasy or worried about this is because of a chemical imbalance in the brain where the emotional brain overpowers the cognitive brain. This shows that anxiety is not self-inflicted and has a medical explanation to prove that it is serious. There are many different types of anxiety such as social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Symptoms of anxiety can be mild to severe for example butterfly feeling in the stomach to the feeling of a tight chest, or even the feeling of a heart attack one of the most extreme symptoms. Although anxiety is caused by a chemical imbalance, trauma or medical conditions can also trigger it. Is this why there isn’t enough awareness? It is too hard to comprehend due to the many different types and triggers, it is different for everyone.
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Anxiety is really opposed to the belief of some that it is not. It is a real issue that can isolate people as many experience panic attacks just from going outside of their house. It is not someone crying for attention. Just like a broken leg, it can bring physical pain. Some may think that it is fake as it doesn’t always come with physical symptoms or some may be able to hide it well as they have been suffering with it for many years. Anxiety can affect a lot of people in different ways as there is a large range of ages that can have it from young children to as old as 59. This can make anxiety difficult to understand meaning that making people aware of it is a hard task. As a result, the correct meaning of anxiety is brushed over as it is easy to disregard it than to learn the real meaning.
When someone is diagnosed with anxiety it can take a while to get treatment, as the first step is usually a self-help course. This involves working through a booklet at home without doctors or specialist help, which can make it difficult as it may be a sensitive subject to think about. The course helps you understand what anxiety is and what you are feeling is okay and normal. Although there is not much help from doctors there is occasional contact with the doctor. This course can last up to two months if it doesn’t work there may be further treatment available. There may be a therapy that can be used to calm the anxiety and to learn to control it when it arises. Although these treatments are available after the initial diagnosis doctors may not reach out until you contact them saying how you would like to progress. This is why having more awareness is important as after help is given from the doctors that does not mean the anxiety is gone. Therefore, the benefit of more awareness is that those who still cannot control their anxiety after the help of doctors can seek help from others who also have it.
There isn’t enough awareness of anxiety or mental disorders in general, which is clear by the misconceptions about each disorder. In previous years anxiety awareness was not as prominent as it is now due to the belief of the person suffering wants attention. However, there still isn’t enough as many people don’t know what anxiety is or that there are different types. In schools, there is more help with leaflets going around and information at hand for people who may be thinking they could have anxiety. Although there is an increase in help within schools the stigma surrounding it may stop people from seeking the help. Outside of schools, there isn’t much awareness unless you specifically look for it, for example on the internet or making appointments to see a doctor. The problem with someone feeling nervous to make an appointment with a doctor or go to therapy is that they cannot reach out. So, if the stigma and negative connotations were lifted from the word and anxiety and what it represents it would make it easier for those suffering to feel comfort in seeking out treatment. Along with this people may become aware of what anxiety actually is and therefore be able to look out for others.
In conclusion, anxiety as well as other mental disorders should be talked about more openly with less negative connotations. Instead of portraying those with anxiety as crazy or faking it, we should bring to light the real issues, in order to tackle them in the way they should. Just as someone with a broken leg is believed and treated with respect so should someone with anxiety, as they also have the right to receive the treatment they need. The system of treatment that those with anxiety experience should have the option to develop into a longer term of treatment, depending on the patient to be more beneficial to them. I wish that as time goes on, not only anxiety but all mental health issues are seen in a more positive light, to allow those suffering to feel accepted and not so much of a “reject”.
Bibliography
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anxiety-disorders-in-children/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/
- https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/a/anxiety
- https://www.verywellmind.com/overcoming-stigma-for-generalized-anxiety-disorder-1393170
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