The short answer is no. However, anxiety disorders can be…
Anxiety is a part of human nature. It’s a response to a threat, fight or flight. We all have it. In fact, most living creatures have some form of it as it’s a survival tool. We see something dangerous and we get anxious which provides us with that burst of energy we need to deal with that threat.
Anxiety is a term that is used so much in daily language and we acknowledge that it makes life more challenging at times. That doesn’t make it a disability though. Think of it as any other emotion. We experience fear, sadness, both of which are considered negative but neither is a disability.
There are other mental health disorders that can come about and are derivatives of those emotions. Anxiety disorders come about when your brain perceives something as a threat that actually isn’t that at all. If you experience high anxiety when faced with a wild animal, that’s normal. If you have an anxiety attack when sat watching the TV, that’s slightly problematic.
Anxiety disorders can make life difficult to the point that you can get a job, you can’t leave the house, you can’t communicate with others, etc. all of which you need to be able to do in order to live a normal life. That is when “anxiety” can be a disability.
The unfortunate thing about anxiety disorders being a disability is that you can’t just get rid of anxiety. It’s a part of our nature. The way to manage anxiety is by retraining your brain to perceive those situations as safe as well as finding different coping tools to manage the symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety that is caused because of being under too much stress, doesn’t have to be something that is a permanent problem. It still requires support to get past but taking time away from the stressors and giving your mind and body time to heal, can solve the issue. Of course, if you experience extreme stress again, the anxiety will likely come back too. That’s why anxiety retreats offer support for the future. You can learn various skills and tools to help you process emotions in as healthy a way as possible.
There are many support resources online that can help you overcome anxiety or at the very least, learn how to manage it if getting professional help isn’t an option. It can take a little longer to find the answers you need, but the answers are there. Anxiety disorders can be debilitating so the moment you notice symptoms of anxiety when there are no stressors, seek help to stop it escalating as early as possible.