Is Anxiety A Disability? How I Faced My Anxiety and Reclaimed Control — A Real Story of Healing Through Eastern Wisdom

Is anxiety a disability? That question haunted me for years. I used to believe that something was deeply wrong with me. Sleepless nights, panic over minor events, and a constant mental fog had become my everyday reality. But what if the problem wasn’t me — what if it was the way I handled pressure and pain?

I’m a 31-year-old man living in Michigan. For as long as I can remember, anxiety controlled my life — especially social and performance anxiety. At work, I would overthink every email. At home, I’d spiral over conversations. Even small things, like an event 2 hours or 8 kilometers away, would send me into panic mode. It was exhausting.

When Anxiety Becomes Disabling

So back to the question: Is anxiety a disability? The answer is — it can be. While not every case qualifies legally, chronic anxiety can disable your daily function, productivity, and joy. For me, it meant constant overthinking, procrastination, and even physical symptoms. I felt like I was losing time — and life.

A 2023 University of Michigan study found that over 80% of what we worry about never actually happens. And of the remaining 20%, most issues are either manageable or irrelevant in a week. I remember reading that and realizing: I was suffering not from life, but from imagined pain. My body was reacting to illusions — and it was breaking down.

The Turning Point: Discovering Eastern Energy Practices

After trying therapy and journaling, I started looking into more spiritual approaches to healing. That’s when I came across the Thangka Amulet — a beautiful fusion of East-West energy traditions (“Each Thangka holds centuries of devotion, divine energy, and spiritual protection in every brushstroke.”).

It wasn’t just a lucky charm. This amulet was rooted in ancient Tibetan Thangka art, infused with symbols for abundance, energy alignment, and cosmic peace. I wasn’t looking for magic — just something to anchor me when my mind wandered into worry.

My Healing Ritual: A Simple Daily Shift

I began a practice every morning: wake up, hold my Thangka amulet during 5 minutes of silence or light incense meditation. Some days I would whisper affirmations like, “I release what I cannot control” or “I choose peace over panic.” Within a week, I felt the emotional static lessen. Within a month, my sleep stabilized.

I also made one rule: don’t worry about things more than 2 hours or 8 kilometers away. That simple rule saved me from spirals. It reminded me to stay where my body is — in the present. The more I followed this, the less “disabled” I felt.

“You only suffer once if something bad actually happens. But if you worry ahead of time, you suffer twice — maybe for no reason at all.”

— A reminder I live by now

So… Is Anxiety a Disability? Here’s My Answer Now

Yes, anxiety can be a disability — but it doesn’t have to define you. The moment you start reframing it, supporting your body with tools (even spiritual ones), and practicing small rituals of calm, things begin to shift.

Today, I still have anxious moments, but they don’t control my life. I wear my Thangka Amulet not because it changed the world around me — but because it helped change how I respond to the world.

Final Thoughts

If you’re asking yourself “is anxiety a disability,” I want you to know: you’re not broken. You’re not overreacting. And you’re definitely not alone. Sometimes, it’s just your brain reacting to a lifetime of overstimulation and under-healing. You can reclaim your energy — one breath, one ritual, one mindset shift at a time.

Explore the Thangka Amulet if you’re looking for a spiritual support tool to anchor your healing. Sometimes, the smallest items hold the biggest meanings.