People don't understand!

I feel exactly the same way. Friends and family don't get it, they just tell me Im being silly and to get over it.

Oh my God, yes, I understand what you mean!

My family, my friends, my boyfriend, my co-worker, and sometimes, the doctors too.

It's not because I'm a strong person in life that I don't need help.

Yes!! I didn't even know other people felt the same way but I'm so glad there actually are people who understand. I felt that way today when my teacher allowed me to sit out an activity in class due to major anxiety and my friends and even siblings acted as though I were getting special treatment. They said it was "hard for everyone." I didn't even try to respond; It's so frustratingtry and explain anxiety to someone who's never experienced it like I have.

I totally agree!! People just don't understand that anxiety is an actual problem, and so much of my anxiety is about not showingit to others, sonobody understands that it's not just a silly thing I can just get over.

I'm experiencing the exact same thing as everyone in this thread. No one believes me when I tell them about my anxiety! They either don't want to believe me or they just don't care enough. I cannot get my parents to agree to send me to therapy so I'm stuck in a constant loop or anxiety and I see no way out. It's made worse by the fact that I'm pre-everything trans FtM and I haven't come out to any friends/family yet. I'm hiding it all inside. And it's tearing me apart. But the idea of telling anyone about it absolutely terrifies me. I pretty much can't do or say anything anymore because I feel like people will figure out who I really am and hate me or yell at me or worse. I cannot live like this anymore...

Having some understanding in my life from people close to me has been really tough. Partially because I was scared of their reaction. This is who I am though, as a part of me as having brown eyes...

I recentlymade a big move withmy anxiety and started a blog to help my family further understand what I go through on a daily basis. I have had some great feedback from not only myfamily and friends, but complete strangers. Maybe you all could find some comfort in it, and I would welcome shares and stories from yourselves at anytime.

https://scatterbrainrants.weebly.com

As someone who grew up with anxiety this was something that made me SO upset. How could these people claim to love me and tell me that the things I need to calm down and the things I worry about aren't important?

The thing about the spiral of doom with anxiety and everything that comes with it is that if you haven't experienced it; you cannot understand it. Don't you find that about a lot of things in life? People are just ignorant to what anxiety feels like and how one would react to it.

From the outside it's **hard** to watch someone you love struggle through anxiety. ESPECIALLY if you don't understand why. It all looks very . . .dramatic? Maybe it is, I don't know. All I know is this: when people tell you that what you're feeling isn't a big deal or you need to calm down- consider their intentions. Consider WHY they're giving advice or thoughts; it's probably well intentioned. Is it infuriating? Yes. Yes it is. But it's really not their intention to infuriate and demean you, it's just done because they don't understand and in the end, aren't we grateful they don't understand for their sake?

Hi all! I've been reading through some of the posts online and wanted to suggest a treatment option using Cognitive Behavioral Therapythat has helped a lot of people. It's an online webinar that includes 9 different techniques to help better manage anxiety! See the website below and use promo code: ANXIETY to get 10% off.www.anxietywebinar.com

I don't know what anxiety is. Maybe I have felt it, maybe I do. Maybe I've never done. I just don't know what anxiety is. I hope this doesn't make you feel bad for me posting here. What I have felt, even if I never assigned a name to it, is not being understood. You talk, people may listen, and whatever their answer is, you don't feel understood. It is hard. Feels like there's nothing that can change, and will never change. It feels like you know that nothing you can be told would change your feelings. But just the fact of having felt not understood, makes me know how big problems may be for someone else even if you can't see them from outside. It's not that I know if it could work to help your families or friends understand you, but in that situation I think I would try to ask them, not to talk. Ask them really hard to try to make remember some time in their lives where they thought words were not enough for them to explain, where they felt alone, not understood. Try to make them feel a bit close to where you are. I that happen they will consider your problem in full size, and not as something you are giving and excessive importance.

I hope at least someone finds this helpful. That's my only intention.

Connection and understanding is possible.

@ALH Although not specific to anxiety disorders in particular, I love how this great little resource turns the tables and treats physical health issues the way that many of us currently treat mental health. Maybe you could share it with some people closer to you who you wish understood your challenges better?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B5nfkaeplc "What if we talked about physical health the way we talk about mental health?"