When you have a learning disability, every day feels like a battle. These disorders can make it challenging to attend school, work or even just socialize with friends. With so many difficulties in your life, it’s no wonder that anxiety may also become a recurring problem. And while having anxiety isn’t unique to people who have been diagnosed with a learning disability, the prevalence and frequency of these disorders are often heightened when these conditions are present. Here are five things you should know about anxiety caused by a learning disability.
What Anxiety Looks Like for Learning Disabilities
Anxiety can manifest itself in a variety of ways. It can be in the form of physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, muscle tension or nausea. It can also come in the form of emotional distress like feelings of panic, worry, extreme fear or compulsions like the need to avoid certain situations or the need to check items repeatedly. For people with learning disabilities, anxiety may show up as feelings of being overwhelmed in certain settings, having a hard time concentrating or feeling like you’re losing control. Individuals with learning disabilities also experience a greater degree of social anxiety from the challenges of communicating, interacting and finding friends.
Cognitive Functioning and Anxiety
People without learning disabilities do not always experience a higher level of anxiety than those with learning disabilities. However, those with a learning disability often experience a higher degree of anxiety. This is because cognitive functioning plays a huge part in the manifestation of anxiety. In people with a learning disability, anxiety is often experienced as a result of the inability to process information quickly and thoroughly. Things move slower, and you may have trouble prioritizing important tasks. Unfortunately, people with learning disabilities also tend to have higher levels of perfectionism. This can lead to an increase in anxiety as you try to meet your own impossible standards. It also puts you at risk of feeling like a failure more often, which can often lead to a downward spiral of more stress, anxiety and even depression.
How a Learning Disability Can Cause Anxiety
People with learning disabilities often experience anxiety for similar reasons as those without learning disabilities: their environment, their genetics, their upbringing and their health can all contribute to their risk of experiencing anxiety. Once this anxiety becomes a chronic condition, it can be even more difficult to manage. When you have a learning disability, you may experience anxiety because of your environment. For example, if you’re in a highly stressful work environment, you may find it more difficult to cope with the pressure. You may also experience anxiety if you have an undiagnosed or untreated learning disability. This can lead to feelings of frustration, hopelessness and even shame. You may also experience anxiety if you have an undiagnosed or untreated learning disability. This can lead to feelings of frustration, hopelessness and even shame.
How to Manage Your Anxiety as a Learning Disability
Anxiety is a very treatable condition. If you have anxiety, there are a number of things that you can do to help manage your symptoms. The first step is to accept that you have a problem. Denial is not helpful in this situation. Next, you should talk to a professional about treatment options. There are a number of different types of therapy that can be very effective in helping people with anxiety. You should also learn how to manage your stress. This can be done through a number of different methods, including exercise, deep breathing or even taking part in mindfulness activities. You should also try to make time for yourself. This can include a variety of activities, such as reading, meditating or even just taking a walk outside.
3 Tips to Overcome Your Fear and Live Life Regardless of Your LD
- Accept that you have a disability, not a weakness. You were born with your learning disability, and it’s not something you can change. Accepting that you have a disability as opposed to a weakness can go a long way toward helping you manage your anxiety.
- Challenge your negative self-talk. Every person experiences self-talk, but someone with a learning disability may experience it to a higher degree. Challenge your self-talk with more positive statements. This can go a long way toward helping you manage your anxiety.
- Surround yourself with positive people. You may not be able to control how you feel, but you can control who you surround yourself with. Surround yourself with positive people, and you’re more likely to feel better about yourself.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a real concern for people who have a learning disability. Luckily, it is also very treatable. If you think that you may be struggling with anxiety, it is important to speak with a professional. They can help you manage your symptoms and find ways to live a life free of anxiety. If you have a learning disability, you may be more likely to experience anxiety. Learning how to manage your anxiety is an important step in improving your quality of life. You can do this by accepting your disability, challenging your negative self-talk, and surrounding yourself with positive people.