I agree with everything you said. The crux of my original post, though, is aimed at people who are not suffering real anxiety, diagnosed or undiagnosed. People who claim they have anxiety to feel special or to get attention. People who conflate a mild social discomfort with a serious mental affliction.

I got a genuine chuckle from your comment, so thanks for that.

You seem content to assign people labels and then extrapolate their personality and flaws from those labels. In this case you’re going to just assume I’m a “cishet while [sic] male of some means” and then put down that hypothetical person you’ve invented because you hate that person. I’ve encountered people with views…

I’m not taking anything away from people who suffer from genuine anxiety. In your case I hope you’re seeking help and finding a way to cope with your anxiety. I’m speaking more to the people we all know who think it’s “cool” to claim they have anxiety when really they’re either faking it or just don’t recognize normal…

Again, a very insightful observation. Thank you.

I apologize if I wasn’t clear, but I’m not addressing people with anxiety. I’m talking about people with “anxiety.” These are the kinds of people who don’t seek help, need extra care from their friends, and use their self-diagnosed condition as a shield or an excuse rather than working to fix it.

That’s very insightful. I think the difference between empathy and what you describe, though, is that empathy shares the burden to lighten it for others, whereas self-diagnoses share in the attention and become a greater burden to others.

If the responses to these letters is satire, write better satire.

I’m really glad we’re at a place now where we’re more open to discussing mental health issues. I think, on the whole, that’s a huge boon for society.

I clicked only because I recognized the guy’s name from the MC Lars song “Hipster Girl.” No idea who he is or what his music sounds like, but I’m impressed with him after reading the quotes mentioned here.

Written neutrally without attacking? Just laying out the bullet points of the story without expressing a voice? What is this, journalism? I don’t want facts, I want outrage! Scandal! Sensationalism!

It totally does work! Good for you!

That is so very, very true. Everyone thinks there’s a column on some invisible ledger that the “normal” people fit into. They worry so much about getting into that column that they don’t realize that everyone else is ALSO outside that mythical group.

I’m so glad people are agreeing with what I wrote. I expected backlash, but people who genuinely suffer with anxiety or other things seem to be the most annoyed at the prevalence of the self-diagnosed do-nothing whiners. It’s just become such a normal word to use that the line between anxiety and “anxiety” is…

THANK YOU. People with anxiety need to seek help via therapy, medication, or whatever. They should NOT expect those around them to treat them with kid gloves or seriously alter their interactions, especially if it’s self-diagnosed and the only help being sought is “Waah feel bad for me waah.”

I agree that anxiety can come from concrete experiences. Student loan debt is almost universal among those who choose college, but that’s not really what I’m referring to. The social media thing is a lot closer because it’s anxiety based on not “fitting in” or being good enough. That kind of “anxiety” is entirely in…

Why would you want to photograph a piece of art? Find professional photos of it online. If you’re taking a selfie with the piece... Well, just don’t. That’s obnoxious in a museum.

Why would a “No thanks. I’m over it.” not be an acceptable response?

I’m curious as to when anxiety became this thing that absolutely everyone is diagnosed with. I think everything like that falls onto a spectrum, but the “anxiety” end seems to be getting bigger and bigger to include more behaviors or feelings that are otherwise completely normal.

I think the line suggested in the article is intended only for close relationships. Spouses, kids, parents, etc. may be more receptive to it because you could set the stage beforehand with an explanation of what it means.