I have had the same thing happen to me in the past. I was made to feel second rate because it was viewed tat my partner at the time was kind of doing me a favour just by staying with me, he received lots of sympathy for 'putting up with me'. i ended the relationship because I couldnt deal with the ignorance from him and his family etc.
I find that i dont tell anyone about me anymore because I still think there is a stigma attached to anxiety and mental health illness. People do treat you differently, they are either scared to approach you in case you have a breakdown or they feel afraid of pressuring you etc. I hate people knowing about me because i do feel inadequate if Im honest.

I have mixed feelings on this topic. I think behavior disorders do need more attention in society in general and people do tend to be unsympathetic to people suffering from a disorder.

At the same time I consider the the people close to me I know they have little information available to them and they are susceptible to the disorder stereotypes like anyone so I don't expect them to be overly understanding just because they know me.

I also am sympathetic to the people who need to deal with me (us) and my seemingly odd behavior. It can be difficult for a partner or family member who is often catering to another individuals disorder.

there is definitely a stigma attached to any sort of mental disorders. while we know there is a spectrum, and as far as i'm concerned anxiety sufferers have gotten off pretty good (as compared to schizophrenia etc. can you imagine hearing voices!?). people sort of clump all mental issues together because in the past it's been taboo to talk about it.
i have gotten to the point where i am so annoyed w/ people that i bring it up as soon as i meet someone. i use it as sort of a .. this is who i am right now, how do you like me NOW!? however horrible this illness is, it defintely helps to weed out those people in your life that aren't genuine.
i have people in my life that ask how im doing which i love, because they'll be happy w/ a short answer or whatever, it's the people that ignore the fact that i have issues.. and when i make a comment like 'oh dear, i have to drive now.. wish me luck!" they just sit there in silence. HATE those kind of people.
if i were in the situation that you were in, and this is just me, but i would've spoken up and told everyone about my issues and explained it all. not saying anything would be like agreeing w/ them.. and i would hate for the ignorance to continue. if people look at me differently because of this or don't like me.. OH WELL. like you need people in your life that judge others like that.

I had one of those "silence" moments recently. Last weekend I was driving in the car with my parents. We were in my home town, driving to a diner for lunch. As we were driving I was pointing out things to them. When I stated, "...and this is the street my therapist's office is on." I got the little uncomfortable silence. LOL. Gotta love 'um!

I find that to be very frustrating. People, in general, are not sympathetic enough to each other. But especially with any kind of mental disorder. I think the stigma is slowly changing. I try to not get angry, when it happens. I printed out some materials, from bringchange2mind.org and sometimes I'll leave them places. I think the best thing we can do, is spread the word that there's no reason for stigma. It's real suffering and we're not crazy or dangerous.

I have noticed that many people ask me questions about what I feel like when they don't understand what a panic attack is. Sometimes they just think I'm a sissy, sometimes they are very comforting and say how happy they are that they don't have the same problems. I don't have a problem telling people about it because I find that many people have the same problem. I just found out I have a cousin who is the same way, and we never knew it! Either way, you need to find those close to you who will listen and comfort you. You don't need negativity from people who don't understand.

The fact that I have a hard time eating in front of some of my friends because I feel so sick with anxiety in front of them has caused them to assume I have an eating disorder.
Sadly, I'm sure everyone who suffers from anxiety has some sort of situation like this with people who don't understand them and what they're going through.

There is a lot of stigma attached to mental illness. I worked in an ER for a period of time and saw many patients being treated differently because of their mental illness. the comments were unreal...It's JUST anxiety...just another psych patient...it is just so heartbreaking this is REALand we have to live everyday of our lives with this. I stuggle everyday...every single day

Thats messed up. My friends mom said that people with anxiety have hullucinations (seeing this that arnt there.) another lady said that people with anxiety kill people.;
I understand how you feel

I am at the point where I can not work because I fear messing up so badly. I am currently going to college online due to my social anxiety. I will never tell a co- worker or even mentioned to anyone except a doctor about my issues with social anxiety because I know they will not take the time to research and understand. My grandmother dropped dead in front of me when I was 4 she was my main care taker, my parents never got me help when I started showing stress symptoms from the trauma I am not blaming my parents but I feel if they were really responsible people and got me help immediately, maybe I would have returned to norma. I have GAC, SAD, and some self- esteem issues. I actualll start therapy thursday and I hope this one is going to give me some helpfull tools. I did well on paxil in 2000 maybe I will give it another try while I am undergoing cognitive behavior therapy. I would never tell anyone about my panic attacks unless I truly trusted them with my life. People can be sooo mean.

There IS huge stigma attached to our illnesses and it causes deep suffering that is unecessary to we folk who are simply saddled with illnesses we haven't brought on ourselves but are just doing our best to recover from. I have several life threatening mental illnesses inlcuding panic and anxiety and I have found that I have been roundly rejected by family.

What struck me in your post specifically is this phenomenon of GOSSIP that goes on within the family and friends and even just aquaintences I have found in this town I moved to 2 years ago. Some of it has been malicious, but I think most of it is just ignorant but selfish indulging in gossip that they have no idea is SO dangerous for someone in my position. They have rejected me roundly and don't want me in their life (which is in fact their choice - we each can choose who we want to be in contact with) but they feel they have a right to expound an incredible amount of gossip. I was phoned WHILE IN A VOLUNTARY STAY IN THE PSYCH WARD FOR A MEDS CHNAGE in November last by a cousin to tell me about what happened with the gossip cycle. Can you believe that?? Needless to say it wasn't conducive to recovery. And this woman isn't in my life in any way - but it was clear from the scenario that I am considered public property because I suffer from mental illnesses. Angry? Yes.

If anyone has seen the movie Doubt with Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman as a nun and a priest, the phenomenon of gossip and its repercussions was so well illustrated by a sermon given by the priest. Amazing. Revelatory.

I have had anxiety for a long time. I gave the job of grocery shopoping to one of my kids and my husband is mad at me for this. He is like just go shopping, you have to do it, this is wrong you not coping, blah, blah blah. My point is even my husband doesn't get it. He gets mad, and shows his frustrations , Therapy must be working because I feel that ok about not going shopping at this time. It is no big deal to me. I never liked the job, who does. I also choose to leave places when I feel uncomfortable. It is no big deal to me anymore. But my husband gets mad at me, telling me I am not coping, I should be able to do this or that, my thinking is wrong that I should not be ok with it. The worst ongoing comment is are you going to shit on the floor! He thinks all of the sudden I am going to do something crazy.