If you have anxiety, know that you are not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the United States. Anxiety disorders include, but are not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Society of America, 6.8 million Americans have generalized anxiety disorder. That may sound like a lot of people, but there are even more people in the United States who have been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder affects nearly 15 million American adults.
While the author has not been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, they do have an impulse control disorder called trichotillomania, also known as hair-pulling disorder. Trichotillomania is usually triggered by anxiety. The author has pulled out their eyebrow and eyelash hair for over twenty years due to various traumatic experiences, including being sexually assaulted as a teenager and experiencing domestic violence in their early 20s.
The author's exposure to anxiety disorders extends beyond their own experience, as four of their family members have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. The author has learned how to support people with anxiety disorders through these experiences.
To support colleagues with anxiety disorders in the workplace, the author recommends:
1. Respecting boundaries. Understand that people with social anxiety disorder or PTSD may avoid social events or be triggered by certain sounds. Ask about their triggers, but only if they have disclosed their disorder.
2. Avoid adding pressure. Pushing someone with an anxiety disorder to exceed their limits will only increase their anxiety and could potentially trigger a panic attack.
3. Being an ally. Listen to your colleagues when they share their experiences with anxiety and trauma. Consider starting an employee resource group for neurodivergent individuals. Educate yourself on anxiety disorders to be a better advocate.
The key is to approach supporting colleagues with anxiety disorders with empathy, understanding, and a willingness to accommodate their needs. By doing so, you can create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.