This sort of made me laugh today. My employer asked for my medical report to confirm everything is legit with regards to my long term sickness and I kindly obliged as I have not got anything to hide. I asked to see my medical report first that they were going to send and put simply it said 'TheInjuredBiker' has got a possible injury to the stomach (still under investigation), PTSD and anxiety all relating to a motorbike crash he has on such and such date. This was all good and correct so I was happy to let them proceed with sending it to my manager. Got a funny text back saying that they had received my text and were sorry to hear I was going through such a tough time. They were also shocked that someone like me would get a panic disorder.
This made me laugh but also think. I was also sort of the same before I knew about panic disorders, PTSD and the different forms of anxiety. What is every ones stereotypical definition of an 'anxiety patient'.
Me being well me i've injured myself a lot, bruised 1 rib and fractured another, had a rugby pole pierce my kneecap and so on and I don't care how less of a 'man' this makes me to the world, anxiety is the toughest thing I have ever faced.
I am not sure how its like in the rest of the world but in the UK I really think we need to take a sharp look on how we educate others on mental health as I have realised. Some of the most painful injuries may not be visible.