I have been wanting to write more about Anxiety but I have been nervous about how to present the subject in the best light. Yes, the irony that I was nervous about writing about Anxiety is not lost on me. I guess I could start by telling you all a story about the irony about my Anxiety.
As some of you know, I am an advocate in my community for Learning Disorders and other disorders that affect learning, like ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, and Depression. The other key thing to know going into this story is that I have a serious phobia of bees, wasps, and hornets. So there I was, talking and talking, lecturing on about the physical dangers of a panic attack when I see a wasp float down from the ceiling. I froze. Was this really happening to me? I could feel my heart rate quicken and my palms become sweaty. I trembled as I tried to keep talking about the dangers of a panic attack, while I was trying to hide the fact that I was experiencing one. Thump. Thump. My heart beat pounded faster and faster. Images of the wasp landing on me spun through my head. My eyes watered as a choked sob tried to make its way out. I took a deep breath. I handed off the mic to my partner to finish my speech. She took it and keep on. I quickly, but as calmly as I could, sprinted for the door of the room. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Once in the hallway, I sank down against a wall. I raked my fingers threw my hair as I fought to calm down. My mind was racing a mile a minute. My heart still pounded in my chest. I stood up with determination once I had regained some composure. I was not, not going to let my demons defeat me. I was not going to let that wasp, no bigger than my pinky finger keep me from delivering my speech and living my passion. I walked calmly back into the room, rubbing my sweaty palms on my skirt. I caught up with were the lecture was and finished my speech.
Now this day was a big one for me. The irony of that situation was never lost on me. But experiencing all that I had made me think. I was confronted with one of the most terrifying things in my life while I was living my passion. But I always give myself credit for returning to the speech instead of hiding like I had done so many times in the past. I did not let my demons keep me from living my dreams that day. I have had many a panic attacks since that day.
Anxiety is something I, like many others, have struggled with for all our lives. Anxiety is a real disease. Too many people dismiss it as something that is not serious, something that does not deserve the public’s attention. Here is the thing with anxiety, everyone knows what it feels like. I never have, nor probably ever will, meet a person who has never felt the effects of anxiety. What people don’t understand, is how much worse and frequent that feeling is for people with Anxiety Disorders.
Still don’t believe me? Here are some facts brought to you by ADAA, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
Did You Know?
-Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population).
-Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those suffering receive treatment.
-Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, almost one-third of the country’s $148 billion total mental health bill, according to “The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders,” a study commissioned by ADAA (The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60(7), July 1999).
-More than $22.84 billion of those costs are associated with the repeated use of health care services; people with anxiety disorders seek relief for symptoms that mimic physical illnesses.
-People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders.
-Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events
I will continue to talk about Anxiety until it is recognized as a serious issue. After all, it is the NUMBER 1 mental illness in the U.S.
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~WHN
Random Thoughts of a Girl with ADHD 