Is Your Anxiety 'normal' And Just Being Pathologized?

[Philippa]

I woke up this morning aware of the way my father had pathologized me and used my issues as a way of avoiding looking at his own behaviour, and what part it had to play in the destruction of our relationship. It lead me to google the word 'pathologize' and look into the various ways in which this is such an enculturated norm these days.

I stumbled on this article in the Huffington Post, about how anxiety is often pathologized and how the DSM in general has gotten way out of hand, and the way people are claiming mental illness over every little emotion they have, and having that validated by the psychiatric community, or some dubious ones at least, is creating a world where people have lost track of what is 'normal, healthy' levels of anxiety, and what is 'abnormal'.

I thought this would be an interesting topic to discuss...here is the article.Dead Link Removed

 

[Philippa]

Sorry, I just noticed that I somehow posted this twice, without meaning to. I just wanted to change one word from the title of the thread. If one of the moderators could delete this one I'd appreciate it.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I think that all, or at least most of us diagnosed with PTSD have higher than normal anxiety levels. It sort of goes along with the territory! However, I also think that we may be too quick to blame any sort of anxiety on PTSD when it may be more along the lines of normal anxiety. I know I'm guilty of this!

I worry that the DSM-V has lowered the threshold for what is an anxiety "disorder" just a bit too much. I don't know the specifics of the change, rather just what was mentioned in the article. (I'm referring to Generalized Anxiety Disorder here, not PTSD.) It is a bit worrisome because what is the go-to "fix" for anxiety these days? A pill! (Unfortunately.....)

I've personally run the gamut from physical anxiety to mental anxiety with all sorts of combinations in between. Some types of anxiety I cannot handle with my coping skills and yes, these are the times when I need medication. However, most of the time, using coping skills is a much better alternative for me. Of course I can't speak for everyone, but I think it says a lot when someone like me who does have a lot of anxiety can sit here and say "hey, drugs aren't always the best solution!" I honestly think CBT is AWESOME and I am constantly suggesting it to people, along with the books I use to help me.

I think this is a great thread because it can make others aware that just because we're anxious, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's PTSD. I know how bad my anxiety was before, and I know how much better it is now. I see the anxiety as much more closer to "normal" levels. Its just those other pesky symptoms that keep getting in the way! LOL

 

[Philippa]

Have you tried the 5 Tibetan Rites Solara? I can recommend Heath Myers on you tube. He offers them along with the 13 articulations which are excellent exercises for general health and longevity, as well as to reduce stress and anxiety. I've been doing them for about a week now and have noticed that I'm a lot calmer, and more focussed, centred and grounded. Try them out.

 

[silkleaves]

PTSD is an anxiety disorder, the very aspect of our lives in having it is the inability to handle stress or have a level of anxiety that is the the same as someone with a "normal" bout of anxiety or stress related situations. Now there isnt one size fits all anyway though. When I was going to group, it was interesting to see how many of could relate to the same things, but how differently many of us reacted, whether emotionally or physically.

Im a very black and white...I either completely shut down, or I completely lose it. And the severity of whatever is making me anxious has nothing to do with it... But I do find it curious though, how someone can say...for example, get married, start a family, decide to be a stay at home mom, go through a move, and then say they have developed an anxiety disorder because of all the stress. Of course, you just lived like...a whole lifetime in the span of a year! LoL Give your mind and body at least a chance to adjust to all of that!

Stress in and of itself is healthy, its the bodys natural response to certain situations. But there is this drive in society I notice to eliminate all stress, like its a bad thing. Be zen, stay calm, dont let anything get to you. To me that is like trying to eliminate sweating...its not desirable, but still a natural and necessary bodily function. But sometimes there is a malfunction of sorts, where the body isn't able to function properly again for an extended or indefinite period of time, thats when there is an issue.

Definitely though, prescribing drugs to make the body stop doing what its supposed to do to begin with in a healthy / mentally fit person makes no sense to me.

 

[Philippa]

I'm just starting to realize this about myself silkleaves...that I really internalized the idea that stress is a bad thing. My father is a stress junkie...or that's what I called him anyway. He seemed to thrive on it, and growing up I wanted to be the exact total opposite of him, so I did everything to try and cultivate more calm and got into zen living...which I loved at the time. It didn't stop from letting things get to me though.

 

[silkleaves]

Yeah, Im right there with you. It wasn't a conscious decision though... well, maybe in a way it was. Things weren't good at home, and my mother always warned me to not say anything to anyone, and that I better put a smile on my face or else. And that's just something I took with me...no matter how bad things are, the worse they are, I just push it aside make a point to just forget it and be happy.

It is all taking it's toll now though.

 

[Philippa]

I had the same thing...with a mother telling me to put a smile on my face and always be happy. I faced so much disapproval from her as I started to realize in myself that it didn't feel true or real to always be happy, and that being sad was actually ok. I had a temper and was told to keep it or face disapproval and rejection...so I went the zen way, until the anger just couldn't be contained anymore.

What I learned was that sadness is a beautiful emotion. My mother thought it was 'ugly'...that I was 'ugly' for being sad and it was really her own sadness being mirrored back to her that she couldn't handle.

I don't push it aside. I'm the person strangers in the street tell to smile and people say "It's not that bad" to and "cheer up"...to make them feel more comfortable...but f*ck it. That's how I feel at times. If they are uncomfortable with it then too bad. I no longer live to make everyone else happy at my own expense.

It hasn't happened for a while though, so maybe I no longer look so sad when I'm in public? In the city though, people are too caught up in where they are going to stop and worry about one person who isn't smiling like a clown for their entertainment.

My mothers gradual and ongoing rejection of me shows how far a mother is willing to go to avoid looking at their own emotions, due to mistaken perceptions.

 

[silkleaves]

For the longest time, people would call me Pollyanna. No matter how bad a situation, I was happy, Happy, HAPPY! all day every day. Nowadays, not so much. I cant hide it anymore, but it comes though when Im writing, but I can hide my expression and my feelings behind words from a distance, and at least appear like everything is going great with me so that hasnt changed... people think Im doing great.

One thing that I hope I did right though is by my daughter. She is not at all afraid or shy to express if shes angry or hurt or disappointed or well..this whole range of emotions that I was never allowed, or allow myself to have. There are times when she is talking about something someone did to make her angry, and I have to confess, shes 17 now and I still look at her in amazement that she is so comfortable expressing herself. Like...in a ooooh, how do you do that?! Sort of way. Above all, Im happy I didnt mess her up in that way.

 

[Philippa]

That's a pretty great achievement. You've left a legacy of healthy expression for the next generation in your lineage. That's pretty awesome.