Beware of Fake Concern About Anxiety and Depression

Fake concern about anxiety and depression has probably been with us since homo sapiens first swung out of the trees around 200,000 years ago. Humans with depression, anxiety and panic, mental illness, and mood disorders have always been discriminated against, in virtually every society in history. That said, great strides have been made to end mental health stigma, and portray people with mental health issues as just that: ordinary people. However, some of the concern certain people express about depression and anxiety is actually little more than a smokescreen for more discrimination. In other words, it's a fake out. Here's how to spot fake concerns about anxiety and depression and protect yourself against it.

My Recent Experience With Fake Concern About Anxiety and Depression

I ran into some camouflaged discrimination myself at work the other day. Although I write for the Treating Anxiety blog, I also have problems with major depression, and I was having a particularly difficult day. A woman came up to me and asked if I was okay. She said that I seemed really down. I was somewhat put off -- asking the cashier at your local grocery store if they're okay because they seem depressed is not a usual question, seeing as how it's a completely utilitarian and commercial relationship. I generally adopt a polite but distant stance with customers. I'm not there to make friends, I'm there to get paid, and that's the only reason I'm there.

However, I went with it anyway. Despite my better judgement, I admitted that I was, in fact, having a very tough day, and that I struggle with depression. Big mistake. She immediately started asking all sorts of inappropriate personal questions, including asking me when was the last time I had "gotten laid," and whether or not I "liked to party." The creepiest thing during all this were her eyes -- they were as hard as flint and utterly merciless. Her tone of voice was harsh and dismissive. When I asked why she was asking so many personal questions, she responded that it was because she enjoyed "getting to know people," which was an utter, baldfaced lie. Her "concern" about my depressed mood was a fake cover story for a full-on, shaming, emotional attack.

Then she left, and I stood there with my jaw on the floor while doing a few breathing techniques to calm anxiety and panic. I was shocked and dumbfounded.

How To Spot Fake Concern About Depression and Anxiety

• Context and setting -- There's an appropriate time and place to express concern about anxiety or depression. Generally, a good context for this sort of thing is low-key, and relatively intimate, like dinner parties, small groups of friends, or one-on-one get togethers. Work and professional settings are usually inappropriate for talking about mental health issues.
• Inappropriate personal questions -- When someone starts asking very pointed, personal questions, be on your guard, especially if the setting is also inappropriate. I just learned this one the hard way.
• Facial expression / tone of voice -- Regardless of what's coming out of someone's mouth, keep an eye on their face and listen to the tone of their voice. Do their tone and expression track with their words? If not, their concern may be nothing more than crocodile tears.
• History of shaming / discrimination -- Has the person expressing concern for you shamed you about your mental health problems in the past? If so, they're probably trying to pull a fast one so you'll drop your guard. In my opinion, people that attack others for their feelings are emotional bigots who are unlikely to ever really change their hurtful behavior.

Protecting Yourself Against Fake Concern

• Don't volunteer personal information. -- Keep personal information to yourself, especially information about anxiety or depression. Make sure the setting is safe before you risk opening up about your inner struggles. If I had kept my mouth shut about myself at work, I would not have been attacked. Appropriate places to talk about your feelings are in therapy, with trusted friends, or in a safe online setting like the HealthyPlace forums.
• Refuse to answer personal questions. -- If someone is "concerned" about you via a lot of prying, personal questions having to do with your mental state, you're probably about to be on the receiving end of a heavy dose of good, old-fashioned stigma. Remember, you have the option of refusing to answer these types of questions because that's your business, and no one else's.
• Remember that it's not about you. -- If you do happen to let your guard down and get sucker-punched like I did, keep in mind that it's not personal. It happened to you simply because you were there, not because you're bad, wrong, or because you deserved it. Bigots take out their hateful frustrations upon others because of their own sick thinking, and they're not that picky. Any handy target will do just fine.

Also, bear in mind that most people who express concern about anxiety and depression are not being fake -- their concern is actually genuine. They may have a spouse who's depressed. Perhaps one of their kids suffers from panic disorder, or they may struggle with it themselves. People who genuinely care far outnumber those who don't. Acceptance of mental health issues really has come a long way in the last 20 years or so.

But, needless to say, I still won't be disclosing any personal information about myself at work anytime soon.

You can find Greg on his website, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and Facebook.