Anxious Aspie
Everyone experiences some sort of anxiety throughout their lives, whether it be due to a job interview or a first day back at school. However as an Aspie, anxiety is a part of my daily routine in which it can entirely consume me. To an individual who experiences low levels of anxiety, reading that it can entirely consume me may be hard to comprehend. It is important to understand that anxiety can vary from person to person and can become a disorder when not controlled and affects an individuals way of life.
There are many conditions linked with anxiety, such as; Agoraphobia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder. (http://patient.info/health/anxiety)
The link which i have inserted contains information on each condition and what they entail.
Personally, anxiety has always been a part of my life. Even as a young child i would refuse to take part in various activities. My mother tried to get me involved in dancing, choirs, acting classes and anything else you could probably think of. I remember always having an excuse as to why i shouldn't attend in order to convince my mother to let me stay at home. Even at school i would pretend to be sick, if it wasn't a sore stomach it was a sore ear or throat.
When i look back at those days i regret not taking part in more activities and convincing my mother to not force me to get involved. I know if i would have went even a few times it would have become a part of my routine and i would have ended up enjoying it.
As i have gotten older, i have learnt to push myself to take part in new experiences. I feel that i have been able to do this by adapting a 'mask' which is basically another version of myself which i am sometimes able to be in an anxiety provoked situation. I have used this mask in my previous part time job as a waitress, however after my 7/8 hour shifts i would be completely drained from keeping up the 'mask' for so long. I am usually only able to adapt my mask in a planned situation, when i know that i am going to have to use it and act confident. If a situation which i have not planned for my day is inserted into my schedule my mask crumbles. I am not always able to adapt this mask and sometimes find myself struggling with the high levels of anxiety. I become very distant, irritated and completely different to my normal self.
It is almost as if there are three versions of myself; one with the 'mask', one filled with anxiety and another completely comfortable (my true self).
Do you struggle with anxiety?, does anyone else out there have a 'mask'? Please let me know your experiences and / or opinions in the comments.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. :) x
There are many conditions linked with anxiety, such as; Agoraphobia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder. (http://patient.info/health/anxiety)
The link which i have inserted contains information on each condition and what they entail.
Personally, anxiety has always been a part of my life. Even as a young child i would refuse to take part in various activities. My mother tried to get me involved in dancing, choirs, acting classes and anything else you could probably think of. I remember always having an excuse as to why i shouldn't attend in order to convince my mother to let me stay at home. Even at school i would pretend to be sick, if it wasn't a sore stomach it was a sore ear or throat.
When i look back at those days i regret not taking part in more activities and convincing my mother to not force me to get involved. I know if i would have went even a few times it would have become a part of my routine and i would have ended up enjoying it.
As i have gotten older, i have learnt to push myself to take part in new experiences. I feel that i have been able to do this by adapting a 'mask' which is basically another version of myself which i am sometimes able to be in an anxiety provoked situation. I have used this mask in my previous part time job as a waitress, however after my 7/8 hour shifts i would be completely drained from keeping up the 'mask' for so long. I am usually only able to adapt my mask in a planned situation, when i know that i am going to have to use it and act confident. If a situation which i have not planned for my day is inserted into my schedule my mask crumbles. I am not always able to adapt this mask and sometimes find myself struggling with the high levels of anxiety. I become very distant, irritated and completely different to my normal self.
It is almost as if there are three versions of myself; one with the 'mask', one filled with anxiety and another completely comfortable (my true self).
Do you struggle with anxiety?, does anyone else out there have a 'mask'? Please let me know your experiences and / or opinions in the comments.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. :) x
I can also experience anxiety, especially when things don't go as anticipated. You hit that nail on the head!
ReplyDeleteI personally find it the main reason why my anxiety is provoked so often. Thanks for your comment, its good to know that you are able to relate :)
DeleteKarla Mcguckin
ReplyDeleteIn all logic , reality no one can really diagnose (Anxiety ) -The reason is simply that there are many levels not many types just logically many levels of it , it can cause stress , nervousness , nervous tension, heart poputations mostly in women & several other emotional , phylogical things with in each person both man, woman , child...