Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

Anxiety and those who doesn't understand

User Profile: TheMadHatterWasHere
TheMadHatterWasHere March 26th, 2023

I have anxiety and load of it. To the point where I can't go out anywhere without someone accompanying me. I am getting a servicedog in 8-9 month, so I'm just waiting to get my life back.

And I have this friend. Or well not friend, but we are in the same role playing group. And she just doesn't understand. She keeps saying hurtful things, and I just wanna you know... hurt her back?

Mostly when I talk about my anxiety (which I don't do often), she ends up commenting on it. It's like... I talk about how I'm waiting for my new servicedog, so I can go outside alone again. And she just says things like "Can't you just go outside?", "Can't you just practice going outside", and I get like really mad?

It feels like she is trying to... I don't know exactly what, but I feel like she is downplaying my anxiety, like she doesn't believe that it can get that bad. And I kinda get some of where she is coming from, bc not everybody knows about anxiety. But I have tried to explain it to her, and she keeps giving me comments like the ones above. Like I can just pull myself together, and then my anxiety will be gone.

I can feel that it makes me very depressed, and I am thinking about taking a break from the group or quitting it completely. I'm so tired of ppl not respecting that I have issues and downplaying them - or even making fun of them. What can I do?

I don't know. I'm just really angry right now (and sad) :S

2
User Profile: innateJoy9602
innateJoy9602 March 28th, 2023

@TheMadHatterWasHere

That does sound incredibly invalidating. It’s unfortunate that some people don’t understand or can empathize with mental health struggles. With anxiety, it’s definitely not always easy to “just go outside.” I’m sorry she invalidated you like that.💜

1 reply
User Profile: TheMadHatterWasHere
TheMadHatterWasHere OP March 28th, 2023

@innateJoy9602 Thank you for the kind words. I have tried to explain that to her multiple times, but she just keeps giving me comments like that :S I have cut contact with her for now though, which makes me feel a little better.

load more