Are we, as a generation, as a society, anxious? Are we feeding off of each other? Do we know the difference between feeling anxious and feeling lonely or nervous? These are all questions I ask myself constantly as I suffer from an anxiety disorder.

Before cheer tryouts or a big test, it is normal to feel nervous. After getting a speeding ticket or a bad grade in a class, it is normal to feel sad. Anxiety is so much more than feeling numb after a break up. However, anxiety can be all of these things as well.

When you can't sleep or feel paralyzed because of the big test the next day, you might have anxiety. When your chest tightens or and you can't sit still because of something you saw on TV, you might have anxiety. Don't dismiss your own feelings, instead, understand your emotions instead of jumping into conclusions.

Everyday I feel physical anxiety. Some people suffer from emotional anxiety, social anxiety or separation anxiety and the list goes on and on. But do they really? Everywhere I look I see a "shared" Facebook post or a "retweeted" tweet about dealing with anxiety on the daily and what it actually means to suffer from this mental health condition. It is almost like the idea of suffering from anxiety is glorified from a social media perspective.

I feel like the stigma that comes with mental health is slowly fading and changing into a trend. Although it is wonderful that the negative connotation that mental health issues raises in some peoples eyes is disappearing, a popularity vote should not take its place.

One theory I have come up with is that social media has changed the way we view ourselves and others. We get so "anxious" about how many "likes" we get on an Instagram picture or if we will get judged for still using Facebook. Online bullying is much more convenient than physical bullying and it can really diminish your soul.

Another theory I have is that "everyone else is doing it." Celebrities are constantly coming out in magazines with their mental health stories and are praised for it by their fans. Although it feels comforting to know someone else is going through what you are, it still isn't good for you.

I know it seems like I am trying to dismiss the feelings some of you might be having, but I am doing the exact opposite. I am trying to get to the bottom of your emotions to understand if you are feeling anxiety or something else. Don't sell yourself short.