Posted by delna on June 26, 2004, at 22:31:50
In reply to Re: What is Anxiety?, posted by jazzdog on November 27, 2001, at 16:49:14
> Two doctors I know who've worked in Africa and India say the psychological problems there are completely overwhelming. Between war, torture, malnutrition, extreme poverty, child slavery, horrendous infant mortality, and up to 40% AIDS infection, the psychological fallout is appalling. Africa in particular suffers from massively widespread post-traumatic stress disorder. The only reason we don't hear more about psychological problems is that medical workers have more than they can handle just trying to keep people alive, let alone healthy.
>
> - JaneI have to totally agree with Jane on this. I am from a 'third world’ country and work in the psychiatric drug industry. Anxiety, amongst all classes of people is a very real and disabling problem.
Jane explains why perhaps one may not be aware of peoples’ psychiatric problems in such countries.
You may never ever hear about the farmers, the fishermen etc (who labor all day just to survive) who suffer from anxiety. These people, who make up most of the population (almost 60-70%), do not have access to medical care. So they are invisible.
Infact it is these poor rural parts that make up the largest (though yet untapped) market for anti-anxiety drugs. So when you look for it, you will find that anxiety exists in all types of people and it is very real.I also do feel that unless you have suffered from debilitating anxiety you can never, never understand what it feels like. I don’t think that even my doctor (who is very insightful) knows the feeling. He can only see manifestations of it.
I find it frustrating to try to explain anxiety (and any psychiatric symptoms) to a non-suffering layperson.... so I’ve just stopped bothering.
However….
William77 expresses beautifully and concisely just what the onset of an attack might feel like."….. capture the feeling of suddenly falling backwards in a chair while you have to fake your way upright through the day…”
Maybe if people who don’t have anxiety disorders, seriously tried this mental exercise ‘anxiety’ would take on a whole new meaning to them.
Take care
D
poster:delna
thread:84880
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040621/msgs/360845.html