[CosmicRose]

I was having a debate with someone online just now and they were saying that Anxiety Disorder isn't real, they said "You have anxiety just because mommy yelled at you when you were younger?" They were obviously being rude and very much downplaying my abusive childhood that they know nothing about, but still their stance on anxiety was that it is made up and only weak people experience anxiety. This wasn't so much a "debate" as it was an argument. They then compared their past to mine and said they experienced abuse too but never had anxiety issues from it. I'm just kind of blown away by this person's views on the whole subject. Part of me wonders if they're right on some level - while anxiety is debilitating - is it really just our inability to "toughen up" and move on like other people? Is it really just "in our head" and we are too "weak" to be stronger and quell the anxiety once and for all? I'm really angry at this person and I would like to hear other people's opinions on this please. Anxiety and my abusive past has played a huge part in my life and has held me back from lots of things - and to just hear this person talk so flippantly about it is strange.

[IowaFarmGal]

Some people abuse makes them cold and very callous toward others. If it was a choice between that and your anxiety which would you prefer? I actually think that person is more damaged and lacking critical things they need to be a functioning human being.

[(JD)]

..which is why I restrict my debates.... please don't let their ignorance ruin your life.

If anxiety we're real would the military spend billions on it for their soldiers???? PTSD.

[IrisBloom]

You know it's real, so don't let a stupid person's opinion get to you.

[Hellion]

Uhh...that's called a troll, for all anyone knows they don't even actually believe anxiety is 'fake' just trying to get a rise out of someone. I mean if you endured abuse it could certainly factor into developing an anxiety disorder...this person on the internet doesn't know you so nothing they say has any bearing on you as a person in reality. By the way you describe it though sounds like they're just being nasty...no amount of explaining is going to convince them the validity of your experience its a common a**hole troll tactic to downplay things someone posts or misrepresent it just to get them all worked up. I understand why you'd be angry at this person its a mean thing to do...but they want you to be mad and dwell on it so best thing to do is think to yourself 'to hell with them' and remember they have no ground to stand on as far as trying to tell you how it is.

Also for future reference if possible its best just not to engage with people on the internet when they start getting personal like that...block em, go to another page for a while, report them if they harrass you. I have dealt with this kind of thing...and more often then not its a trap to get you to engage so they can just upset or even just piss you off by invalidating comments. Admittedly sometimes I still find myself engaging in one of those useless conversations....and gotta remind myself its not worth spending my time and energy...arguing with some jerk or (other unkind words that may not be appropriate here)hiding behind a computer screen. I play an multiplayer online game called League of Legends, and sometimes you get toxic people who insult and belittle people which can really screw up the whole game...but there is an option to report them after the match...so it's not just forums or social networking sites where people behave like that. But yeah it can be hard not to get mad about it, which then of course interferes with trying to concentrate.

[panick_is_gift]

Fear is very real, you can feel it. But what you believe to be the source, may be fake, i mean unreal danger. The result of believing unreal fear is really scary.

when you start believing the cause of fear is fake you will start to become normal. that is my experience. Not only that, and also physical exercise, selfhelp books, good food, positive thinking, meditation etc are also major factors in overcoming the fear. i am still facing the intrusive thoughts fear. I know it will take some time to overcome it.

Some source of fear may be real and it also causes anxiety. But in this real source, it does not mean that we are weak. It means that while we are grown up from infant to now, we have learnt and acquired many good and godly things in life. Our subconscious mind, each and every cell of body, mind etc became godly. when we say Danger, it means opposite to how we like, love, comfort, development of body and mind, etc. So when we are infornt of Danger our body+mind+soul automatically gets shocked which is normal anxiety, i.e fear which is automatic response from our god gifted body. If we do not have resilience to come back to normal, we develop anxiety.
There are various therapy, tools, bible lessons, Hindu philospohy, Buddha philosophy, prayers to overcome anxiety easily.
Anxiety is very very bad, once you overcome you will get a new life. Recently recovered from panick attack and feeling so wonderful. However some anxiety is still disturbing me, which i am sure to overcome soon.
Lets not get upset form others opinion. Anxiety is real, not fake. the one who face anxiety and overcome is the most brave person and intelligent as well.

[CosmicRose]

Wow you're right Hellion, he was probably a troll. LOL omg I can't believe I didn't realize that sooner. I guess I just assume people aren't that lame. His grammar mistakes and the fact that he sounded like he was 15 but insisted on being a marine for 6 years and in the FDNY academy made me question it lol. I even said "I would expect more from someone in the military talking about anxiety like this." He was probably just lying and trolling.

[BlueEyedMama]

I'm sorry that you had to deal with a troll. *hugs*

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

Wow you're right Hellion, he was probably a troll. LOL omg I can't believe I didn't realize that sooner. I guess I just assume people aren't that lame. His grammar mistakes and the fact that he sounded like he was 15 but insisted on being a marine for 6 years and in the FDNY academy made me question it lol. I even said "I would expect more from someone in the military talking about anxiety like this." He was probably just lying and trolling.

Could very well be...thing with people on the internet is unless its someone you know in person they could be anyone posing as anything. Unfortunately some people will use this sort of anonymity to go around harassing people....and well even if they do question the reality of anxiety disorder they shouldn't be rude about it.

But that is why they're trolls....due to the nastyness.

[avlady]

that person was just trying your patience and looking for a fight i think. some people have no empathy because they've never experienced it.

[Shadesofdark]

Yep, I vote for troll. Forget about the punk and don't let him upset you. if you let them upset you they win. Down with trolls!!!

[healingme4me]

They can gladly have any heart palpitations for me. And no, I don't have a heart condition nor elevated blood pressure...

[Dan208]

I WISH anxiety was fake. I'd have done so many more things by now if it wasn't. And, for the record, mommy didn't yell at me when I was little.

[Sugarbaby416]

I am a long time sufferer of multiple anxieties from stress--and while I don't advocate wallowing in self pity and feeding off of misery, I will say it's unfair to say that Anxiety is fake, especially when a person has no background history, personal experience or education to support such a gross misrepresentation of an illness.

Stress is the #1 killer that has over 150 symptoms, including cancer! So don't fret...that person has no idea what they're talking about and sounds like a person who either spent their whole life avoiding any and everything or they lived a sheltered life.

I'm only 28, and I've had a very traumatizing life. Having an extremely strong resolve and resilience, I spent my life rolling with the punches and not whining about it. It STILL resulted in PTSD, OCD, perfectionist disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar I.

So it can't be fake if it even happens to folks that doesn't even know it's happening! So it's not your fault and I would suggest you ignore nutjobs like that. Some people are insidious and enjoy torturing people by saying horrible things to them. Good Luck!

[marmaduke]

Science Finds Even More Evidence That Anxiety Isn't Just 'All In Your Head'

[CosmicRose]

That study is very interesting marmaduke, the part where it said "overactive metabolism in the brain" - I'm not sure if that's the same thing as a body's overall metabolism, but I've always had a very high metabolism just based on my weight and energy and how fast I can lose weight and all the factors that go along with a high metabolism naturally. I wonder if that's sort of what they're talking about in the brain regions. Definitely sounds genetic, I take after my dad's side and they're the skinny ones with anxiety! Lol

[i dont matter]

Can not help but wonder where your "friend" got their medical degree.....

[CosmicRose]

The troll got their degree at Trollololol University

[annoyedgrunt84]

There's a lot of times I wish someone could crawl inside my head and be me for a day. I often think about if somehow the two of us could just switch consciousnesses, if that's a word, for a few hours. They could see what It's like to be me and I could see what "normal" looks like.