Anxiety disorders are way more common that you think. If you suffer with it, you may feel alone and isolated, but rest assured you are not. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults, ages 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. It was also revealed recently by the Ministry of Health in Trinidad & Tobago that an estimated 25% of the population or some 350,000 are living with mental health issues. I am convinced that a great percentage of this figure includes anxiety based illnesses.
Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality and life events. While you may think that anxiety starts when we become adults and the stresses of life take over, the seeds of anxiety are sometimes planted a long time before that. It actually starts in the womb sometimes and takes root the moment you are conceived. Many studies have confirmed this theory. I recently stumbled upon a great researcher who cemented my belief in this theory.
Dr. Gabor Mate's research has shown that children born to mothers who had emotional trauma and stress while pregnant had a very high chance of having ADHD, chronic anxiety, depression or other mental illnesses.
I remember my first time having a social anxiety attack. I was around 7-8 years old and my neighbor was having a big birthday party for his daughter. My mother got me dolled up and I was in the veranda looking out as I waited on my brother to get dressed. I saw children arriving and they were all dressed in jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. I however was dressed in a frilly church dress, hair curled up and looking my Sunday best. I began to panic and cry. I begged my mother to change my clothes. My grandfather, who was alive at time, reassured me. "You are looking very pretty. Why are you concerned about what the other children are wearing?". His words did not help, I continued to panic. My mind was racing. I thought that as soon as I arrived at the party, all eyes would be on me and they would believe I wanted the spotlight and attention.
I formulated in my mind a belief that they would think I was full of myself, and that I wanted to steal the show from the birthday girl. Needless to say my mother and grandfather did not give in to my tears. They sent me to the party with all my frills and bows. That day was the first time of many that I realized I had anxiety about standing out and being noticed. I took note that there was a pattern in my life many years later, where I would shrink myself, “dumb down” and be a plain Jane, trying to not stand out too much to offend anyone.
Managing Anxiety
By: Rachelle-Ann Louear
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