When You ’re Deeply Ashamed of Your Anxiety

You feel deeply ashamed of your anxiety. You are embarrassed and mortified and hope that no one ever finds out—maybe not even your friends, maybe not even your spouse. After all, who gets nervous and shaky at the grocery store? Who feels panicked over giving a presentation at work? Who gets terrified of germs or their loved one’s safety every single time they walk out the door? You assume it’s just you. You assume there’s something really wrong with you, something inherently wrong with you. You are flawed. And because you believe you should be able to control your anxiety—and you can’t—you feel like a total failure. But plenty of people get panicked about going to the store, about giving presentations, about coming into contact with germs, about something terrible happening to their loved ones—and plenty of other things. In fact, 18 percent of U.S. adults have an anxiety disorder every year—and anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America. We think we’re alone because people don’t openly discuss their anxiety, said Shonda Moralis, LCSW, a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of anxiety and stress-related disorders in Breinigsville, Pa. Plus, “many who suffer with anxiety show no outward signs, so to others, they appear calm and at ease.” Countless clients come to Moralis thinking they’re the only ones suffering from crippling anxiety and self-doubt, from stress-induced digestive issues and panic at parties. Shame cre...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Agoraphobia Anxiety Disorders Self-Esteem Self-Help Stress Anxiety Disorder Avoidance Excessive Anxiety feeling ashamed panic Self Doubt self-compassion self-kindness Source Type: news