[RP Advice] I Have Anxiety (Coping With Partners)
Category: Blogging

This is such a huge topic I need to cover, I noticed a majority took notice of my old Tumblr post. It is true; I am a roleplayer with anxiety.

A lot of voices are silenced, because many do not understand. Anxiety is not to be taken lightly, or as a joke. Anxiety comes in more ways than one, and sometimes? symptoms are not even present. This disorder does not have a strong enough voice, this I know, but that is what I am here for.

I have 3 anxiety disorders myself; Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I don’t always display it, but attacks themselves are extremely unpredictable. I have had anxiety since I was 3 years old, so basically I’ve had it all my life. I’ve learned to manage it over time, because I know it will never truly go away.

Social Anxiety deals with being around people. Crowds of people can be overwhelming for someone, even a small group of 3 can be a huge trigger. Even online, people may become overwhelmed by the number of messages they receive. This part of anxiety almost never has symptoms displayed.

Panic Disorder deals with the fight or flight response. When faced in an overwhelming situation, one either responds with aggression, hostility, or they just want to get the heck out of there. For me, personally, it causes me to want to run, cower, or hide. Behavioral changes are more apparent with this one, what you really want to look for in a panic attack? eye movement, hyperventilating, loss of balance.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder deals with traumatic events in one’s life. This is probably one of the worst of them, dealing with flashbacks. Now, it’s not just flashbacks, but a simple every day item can bring a harmful memory to them. I will not share personal information, but I will say that events in my life had given me this result.

RolePlay gives anxiety sufferers an outlet, a freedom from their burdens. Just let your partner know if you have anxiety and need them to be aware of your triggers. Not everyone is going to tell you though, and not everyone will admit they do. Anxiety itself causes us to bottle up because we fear we will be judged and ridiculed.

I am a RolePlayer with anxiety disorders. And I am proud to share my knowledge with you. Please do not judge your partners if there is something that makes them uncomfortable, let them know you will listen, you will support.