Anxiety as an invalid excuse
Anxiety as an invalid excuse:
Anxiety refers to a heightened sense of fear, panic, and negative thoughts and emotions resulting from a sense of threat.
A growing number of populations have been complaining about experiencing anxiety at least once in their lifetime. Anxiety does not require a major incident to occur it can take place due to many insignificant incidences also such as a traffic jam or an inability to cook.
It cannot be denied that where some people experience a sense of panic and fear in the face of a threat that hampers their functionality other individuals might use anxiety as a means of invalid excuse to get through situations.
What are the 4 invalid excuses for anxiety?
Anxiety is an invalid excuse for being mean to other people
The discomfort and fear that accompanies anxiety can lead to frustration and aggression in some individuals.
When an individual is experiencing an anxiety attack, they might feel that everyone around them are unbearably annoying resulting in aggressive behaviors towards them because of the signals sent by the brain in the face of a fight or flight situation.
Anxiety can at times bring out the worst in people that normally don’t exist. However, an individual’s anxiety cannot be an excuse to be rude, hateful, aggressive, or abusive towards people around you.
It’s not acceptable to mistreat close ones or other individuals without any valid reason and get away from it with the reason of anxiety.
Anxiety is an invalid excuse for remaining stagnant
Many times persistent and recurring anxiety can make it difficult for individuals to achieve their goals and progress towards their ideal accomplishments.
There might be several reasons such as rejection, a failure that makes an individual feel responsible for their acts. This makes an individual more anxious about their decisions and skills making an individual hesitant towards moving forward in life.
However, an individual must realize that challenges and negative experiences are an integral part of an individual’s life and should not be a reason for an individual’s lack of growth and achievement.
Hence anxiety cannot be used as an excuse to deal with rejection or failure or even to avoid it in the first place. An episode of anxiety shouldn’t take complete control over their lives and dictate their acts and decisions that were already made.
Anxiety is an invalid excuse to neglect one’s mental health
Mental health conditions such as anxiety, and depression can bring about instability in an individual’s life. It makes an individual feel that they have lost control over their own lives and do not have the right map to follow.
Working on oneself while struggling with something as serious as a mental illness might be very difficult or considered as impossible.
However, anxiety cannot be used as an excuse to neglect their mental well-being. Anxiety can make it difficult to progress with one’s mental health but giving it access over one’s life might cause detrimental effects on an individual’s life which is not acceptable.
People cannot give up on themselves and their mental health due to barriers such as anxiety and depression. Rather they must acknowledge it and work towards a plan of betterment.
Anxiety is an invalid excuse to expect the world to hide your triggers
It is fair enough to avoid triggers of one’s anxiety. However, it is impossible to always hide these triggers from an individual. At some point or the other individuals are vulnerable to face their triggers. under such circumstances, an individual must confront them with utmost practicality and reality.
Individuals must take complete responsibility for developing healthy coping mechanisms to face their triggers at any given point.
It’s important to keep an attitude of expectations that there will be difficult times and one might have to face discomforting situations without a plan of escape.
What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as:
- Sweating
- Difficulty in breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Sense of choking
- Complaints of chest pain
- Shaking or trembling
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or Light-headedness
- Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
- Fear of impending doom
- Hot or cold flashes
- Tingling or numbness
- Increased heart rate
These symptoms vary in severity from person to person. However, it is noted that many people experience anxiety attacks that are not significantly displayed.
Side Note: I have tried and tested various products and services to help with my anxiety and depression. See my top recommendations here, as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness.
What are the causes of anxiety?
Anxiety often results from accumulated stress or overwhelming feelings. Some common causes of anxiety include.
- Increased and challenging situations and demands in day-to-day life.
- Major changes in family dynamics such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one.
- Strain interpersonal relationships
- Intrapersonal conflicts
- Ineffective coping mechanisms
- Comorbid conditions both physical and mental
- Chronic health conditions
- Genetic factors
- Changes in the brain region
- Overdose of caffeine
- Prolonged use of medications
- Significant traumatic experiences in the past or recent times
- Comorbid mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder or any other phobias.
What are the therapy options for anxiety?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.
As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.
Group therapy
It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.
Medication
Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.
Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief.
Online therapy
In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium.
In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation.
Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time
Conclusion
The degree and the severity of anxiety experienced by every individual vary. Anxiety has been so widespread that it might be difficult to find a place where someone else does not share a similar condition.
Individuals need to identify anxiety as a tool to raise one’s motivations rather than looking at it as a major barrier. An attitude that life has layers of difficulty while experiencing anxiety helps to develop healthy coping methods.
It is not acceptable to use anxiety as an invalid excuse to defend one’s behaviors and justifications. However, many individuals use anxiety as an invalid excuse to get through situations that are demanding and way above their control.
What we recommend for curbing Anxiety
Below are some of the services and products we recommend for anxiety
Online Therapy
- Online therapy is another thing we should all try. We highly recommend Online therapy with a provider who not only provides therapy but a complete mental health toolbox to help your wellness.
Anxiety Weighted Blankets
- Anxiety Weighted Blankets are by far the number 1 thing every person who suffers from anxiety should at least try. Anxiety Blankets may improve your sleep, allow you to fall asleep faster and you can even carry them around when chilling at home.
Light Therapy
- Amber light therapy from Amber lights could increase the melatonin production in your body and help you sleep better at night. An Amber light lamp helps reduce the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep and increases overall sleep quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is anxiety a reason not to work?
Although anxiety does not have any significant visible manifestation, it can affect a person’s ability to perform physical work.
People who experience panic attacks might find it difficult to carry out work that requires physical and mental strength for a brief period.
Is anxiety real?
Anxiety is a psychological condition that is experienced by a growing population over time. Severe cases of anxiety might hamper an individual’s ability to carry out daily routines and cause significant distress.
Can mental illness be an excuse?
Mental illness being a means of excuse for poor behavior is a myth. However, some facts indicate that some people who experience mental disturbances behave in ways that are unacceptable or termed abnormal.
What is high functioning anxiety?
High functioning anxiety refers to a person who experiences anxiety while still managing daily life quite well.
People with high functioning anxiety are well accomplished on the outside yet experience a sense of stress, worry, and negative thoughts and emotions.
Can anxiety cause weird thoughts?
Anxiety can result in negative and strange thoughts. Chronic anxiety can also be held responsible for a change in thinking patterns, sleep loss, and related insomnia.