Unfortunately, there are things that people with anxiety do that come off as “rude” to those that do not know or understand this disorder. Those living with anxiety have developed coping mechanisms that may come off as rude but are only a result of their anxiety disorder. For those with no knowledge of these mental health disorders, it is hard for them to recognize signs or symptoms of anxiety and are quick to write off those with this disorder.
Avoiding Eye Contact
Many people view eye contact as a sign of confidence and respect. Many consider it to be a staple in most social interactions. However, for people with anxiety, it can be overwhelming. For many, feeling looked at can make people more attuned to how they look and to their physiological responses, such as heart rate, sweating, or breathing. As you can imagine, when you spend too much time thinking about your appearance, you begin to feel self-conscious and anxious.
Getting Easily Frustrated
People with anxiety are often always on edge. While they might have their anxiety in check most of the time, even the smallest thing can push them over, causing them to snap at someone else, react harshly and sharply, or completely blow up without ever meaning to do so. If someone does snap at you, try not to react to it harshly. Try to understand why they reacted the way they did before responding.
Talking Too Much or Too Little
Anxiety affects people in different ways. For some, it can cause people to be short. Other people see this as rude. They feel like this shows that the person does not want to be in the conversation or does not care what the other person has to say. However, people with anxiety often use short responses as a defense mechanism. The idea of opening up and being vulnerable during a conversation can be overwhelming and scary. However, the opposite can also be true. For some, silence can be unbearable and can make symptoms of anxiety worse. To combat this issue and avoid uncomfortable situations, people will talk non-stop, often talking over others. As you can imagine, this can come off as selfish and insensitive.
Anxiety can have many effects on a person. If you have not dealt with anxiety yourself or know someone who has, you might not be able to understand some of these effects. Before thinking poorly of them, be patient and ask if everything is alright. Try to understand what they are going through before making any judgments.