From the outside looking in, you might think I've got things figured out. I'm an editor for the school's yearbook and news staff, hold office for my senior class and honor society, and am very involved in school. I've got a great group of friends, a fun social life, and a good job. But, I also have anxiety.

I've struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. I've seen the worst parts of what anxiety has to offer. Along the way, I've tried different methods to try and cope with this, but in the end, its apart of who I am.

We often think of people with mental disorders as people who can't function, but that isn't always the case.

Anxiety doesn't have a look.

My anxiety isn't just me hyperventilating and rocking back and forth, my anxiety is also me on a good day, laughing and joking with my friends. My anxiety is me on my best day and my anxiety is me on my worst day.

To the world, I'm the same person I am on my worst day facing anxiety. On the days where it's making it so difficult to function that I don't know if I'll make it through. On the days where my hands won't stop shaking and I have to fight back tears as I try to process the panic that my body has been taken over with. Because even on those days, I'm still the girl with the great group of friends and the good job. I'm still the girl who's involved and accomplished in school.

Anxiety doesn't have a look. Mental illness doesn't have a look. Despite my anxiety, I am still strong, and accomplished, and capable. I define my mental illness, my mental illness doesn't define me.