Mental illness is often called the “hidden” disability because you can’t see it and for those who have never had to deal with the debilitating effects, it is hard to understand. Family and friends may understand getting nervous before giving a speech but can’t understand that ordering in a restaurant brings so much fear you would rather never go out to eat. But anxiety, although in our thoughts, is also considered to be caused, at least in part, by a chemical imbalance in our brains. It is a “real” disorder and the symptoms can be debilitating.