just how common is it?
Everyone in life experiences natural anxiety. But when it comes to an anxiety disorder, the most frustrating question to be asked is, "why are you anxious?"
I've been suffering with constant worry since about the age of 5. It wasn't until I turned 17 my family started to notice it taking over my life and did their best to help me. But how can you help when you know nearly nothing of what it is? My father always got frustrated that I would stress over "nothing" and told me that I needed to stop because it was literally just that easy in his mind. None of my family really understood what an anxiety disorder was until it was pushed to extremes and I needed medical attention. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety, slight OCD and Panic Disorder.
They are learning with me to try and help, however its still very difficult to understand a feeling youve never had. My boyfriend is also uncertain of what it really is. He tries his best to help, but has never witnessed a panic attack or fits of worry until he's met me.
So whats the truth? How many people out there are like me? I feel alone. What does NATURAL anxiety feel like? Why am I different? I know my case is different as I get sick from worry almost daily and have panic attacks nearly every week, but how can I have people in my everyday life understand how it feels? I know they want to help me. But what are some ways they possibly can? I don't even know how to help myself. I feel overwhelmed by my own mind.
The way I think of it, ordinary anxiety is when there's a real threat and you know what it is, so the feeling of anxiety is like a mental warning that you're under threat. The way I think of anxiety disorder is that you get the mental warning but there's no real threat. It's like a faulty smoke alarm that goes off when there's no smoke. But that's just the way I think of it.
I don't know how much you feel the way I think of it fits your situation. If you'd like to chat with me about these things, feel free to send me a message.
@PinkRats
An old therapist I had always talked about the amygdala (the part of the brain that controls decision making and emotional reactions) and how it's like an alarm that goes off when you're confronted with something potentially harmful, dangerous, etc. setting off the flight, fight or freeze response.
When I asked why I was anxious all the time, she told me that some people just have a much more sensitive alarm than others. Think of a fire alarm that goes off for no real reason (like when you're cooking or something), not because there's an actual fire.
Being someone that worries a lot, albeit not pleasant, and certainly crippling at times, does have an upside. The alarm that goes off can help you decide what is dangerous and what's not. And a lot of the time your gut feeling is right.
You are not alone in this. <3
Being an old therapist myself 
I feel I should point out that not all therapists agree the amygdala theory is helpful.
Cognitive therapy or CBT is a very successful and well-established treatment for anxiety disorders, including OCD and panic attacks. It's based on the theory that the anxiety is caused by a specific thought or thoughts. These thoughts occur very rapidly, so you are not normally aware of them, but with the help of a good therapist you can learn to catch them. If the thoughts are true and there's a real threat, then your anxiety is normal. If the thoughts are false, then your anxiety is a disorder. Simple as that. Once you recognize the thoughts you can easily correct the false ones.
Going with the fire alarm idea, it's not that the alarm goes off for no reason. It's more like it goes off when there's a smell of garlic, for example. The tricky part is working out that garlic is the trigger. In CBT for anxiety the tricky part is working out what thoughts trigger the feeling.
@derailments
@RodWhiteley ooh thanks for the response! I always went with that theory because my therapist would go over it with me during multiple sessions and it made sense to me at the time.
Thanks for pointing that out :)
