If people find out I am anxious, won't they think I'm incompetent, stupid or untrustworthy?

Anxiety is natural. It is something that every person experiences at some point in his/her life. Many can sympathize with feeling anxious. If someone claims otherwise (proclaims incompetence, etc), they are just bluffing by trying to seem immune to anxiety. Just accept that being anxious is natural and focus on how to best manage or overcome your personal anxiety.

I won't lie. There sometimes is a stigma against anxious behavior. What I do is just go about my business, even when I do look and feel nervous. Because by doing that, I can prove to those people that I can look anxious and still be a good person, a hard worker, an effective, competent human being. And just by persevering, I'm showing the world that my merits outweigh my quirks. By the way, being and looking anxious is NOT a failing. It is a minor quirk of your nature. Embrace it, but don't let others define you by it.

Not at all! Honestly, I think it is the contrary because it takes bravery to tell someone and trust to go through life with anxiety. Trust in yourself.

I ask myself this question all the time; but I've found that the answer is constantly no. The majority of my friends and family have responded with grace and understanding, and want to know how they can help me, rather than treating me poorly because of what I'm dealing with. The people in my life who have reacted poorly and treated me wrongly because of my anxiety have, honestly, hurt me. Sometimes that holds me back, but I'm learning to accept that not everyone will understand, and focus on the positive: there ARE people who treat me well, and they love me.

I think that a large part of anxiety is a fear of how people might perceive you. One way to start challenging this fear is understanding your anxiety and not being ashamed of it.

Most people deal with some level of anxiety at some point in their lives, so it's more likely that others will empathize with this feeling rather than judge you negatively for it. Also, worrying about what others think will serve only to make you more anxious! People generally notice much less about other people's emotions than you would expect.

not at all, everyone at some stage feels anxious about something. you are not alone. People will admire you if you are able to get through your anxiety. They will realise that you are strong and courageous and not stupid!

Only the small minded and not understanding people would think something as silly as that. I have anxiety myself, anxiety is nothing to be ashamed about, and it does not mean that you are incompetent, stupid, or untrustworthy. Anxiety has nothing to do with that. :)

Sometimes, when people don't know what anxiety is like, they may hold prejudices against you. However, I've found most people by now have known someone with depression and/or anxiety and have a general idea of what it's about. If they don't, it may be that because they know you their prejudice changes because they realize you aren't like the stereotype in their head. If you find them hurtful or judgmental, it may help to talk to them about it if you're comfortable and/or give them some resources about anxiety disorders so they can better understand. If they are not significant people in your life and you think they may take it badly, you can chose to try to ignore them, educate them, or not tell them. It's up to you.

Anxiety means that you may worry and stress a lot. Everyone worries or stresses from time to time in their life, so most people will be sympathetic to your anxiety because they can relate. If you feel they don't understand, perhaps you can check out the 7 cups anxiety self help guide, and find a positive way to explain your anxiety to them.