Rising From The Shame-Anxiety: An Open Address

When we live in a world where people are crippled by their own panic attacks, fear, and pain, its time for the rest of us to awake from our slumber and do something. Whether it is a death by a close member of your family, the choking hands of stress, or the fear to live your life, Anxiety is the misery that shadows millions of lives across the world.

The crippling panic attacks, the sense of failure, the ultimate loneliness as those with Anxiety Disorder feel. These people have shared with me common questions they ask themselves, “Does anyone understand me? I’ve failed myself, my family, and my friends.” The shame of those with anxiety disorder have hurt generations of men and women, some are unaware of what is happening to them.

ANXIETY HAS NO FACE

Anxiety does not discriminate by gender, race, religion, or age. The eighteen year old panic attacks in suburbia feel the same as the sixty five year old rural man. You can’t breathe, you feel like you’re going to die. The stress and fear builds up to a point where it’s drowning you. Many sufferers feel that they do not want to burden their family or friends with their problems, or fear that they will not understand.

IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT

Understanding anxiety as a whole is the key to dealing with it. You may not get over the pain that has caused you to have anxiety but you can certainly get through it. Outside factors usually cause anxiety, and even the executive in the Wall Street Office or the small town hardworking rural farmer suffer from similar pains. You cannot help the fact that you lost someone close to you, or that a certain situation occurred and blew up to the point it has. You may be afraid you are hurting your family. You may try to hide your pain, and you may be ashamed. It is not your fault, and often times we cannot help extreme incidents such as death of a close member of our family, but one can definitely get through the situation by keeping your dignity.

RISE ABOVE THE SHAME

There is nothing to be ashamed about. One of my family members is diabetic and when he has a reaction, which is unfortunately normal for diabetics to sometimes experience low blood sugars and have; my family member should never have to apologize. It’s their life, its something they live with, and because they are a part of my family, I live with it too. Life is beautiful, and in my mind, we all have diabetes, and we have all learned from it. The same should go with Anxiety. Due to unforeseen circumstances, you did not plan to have a panic attack. Ask for help, talk about your feelings, and share the load of pain. But never be ashamed. No one is perfect, and together, as a community of people that love you, we will get all the help you need. If you feel you cannot drive, I will drive, and we will seek any professional help you feel you need. The stigma of “only crazy people see psychologists or therapists” died with the ignorance of the past. I’m glad those days are gone. I won’t let you drown from this. You are loved by all those around you and we are here to learn about this new thing in our lives and get through it; at your pace. Remember to find a professional who has experience with those with anxiety. Education for those who do not suffer from panic attacks and anxiety disorder is the only way we can all come together to understand it and help those who are suffering.

COME TOGETHER

Families and friends unite! Society functions best if we are all happy together. Ants may be a small insect, but the reason their colonies survive floods, droughts, hunters, and man is because they stick together and help each other. We all must pitch in. Every major religion or belief calls to help others, and we all will learn something about panic attacks and learn more about ourselves by talking about it.

I WON’T LET YOU DROWN

My friends with Anxiety, you are afraid you are drowning?  Families and friends must learn the ins and outs of anxiety disorder and learn about panic attacks and listen to how the person is feeling. Your friend or family member is not the only one suffering, there are millions going through the same thing. There are support groups for family friends, and each other, and if there is not in your town, maybe it is your calling to start one. Respect the person with the Anxiety disorder.

Remember the poem Footprints? A man is walking along the beach with God, and he sees that there are two sets of prints, one his and one God’s through out his life. During the hard times, the man sees that there are only one set of prints. He asks God why during the hard times are their only one set of prints in the sand, where was God during the hard times? God answers, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” So, to model ourselves after either our religious beliefs, our spiritual beliefs, or if you are an atheist, our code of ethics and morals, we must carry our friends in need, and ask for nothing in return, because if we are ever in a similar situation, we would like to have the same type of aid. To those who have anxiety, there are answers, and if you seek, you shall find your answers. Look for the answers, as, you are loved, and ultimately, you are not alone.