Don't screw up at work - you'll get a bad review and lose pay.

Don't slack off at work - that's why they don't pay you very much.

My anxiety nags me to get my shit together, save money, work hard, and don't enjoy life too much. "Don't do this" and "Don't forget to do that" constantly run through my head. I worry about paying bills even though I've never had a late payment on anything. Without lists of everything I need to do, I forget to complete the simplest tasks. Often times I miss deadlines on paperwork because I'm distracted by thoughts and worries. Activities as simple as cleaning the house becomes challenging when I notice something else needs to be done so I drop what I'm doing and begin something else. The cycle continues until all of my half-complete chores are finished.

Don't go to bed too early when you're tired - chores need to be done.

Don't relax - the house needs to be cleaned so it's presentable for the people who never visit.

I'm certain "adulthood" led me to this life of anxiety. Before I lived on my own, I was carefree and confident. Keeping my small bedroom clean was incredibly simple. Work was close to home so I could go out with friends on weeknights. Classes were easy and engaging and encouraged my creativity to grow. Every day I wrote pages upon pages in notebooks and filled at least one each month.

Don't go shopping too much - you'll go broke.

Don't pay too many bills at once - you might need the money for emergencies.

Don't take too many days off - you won't make enough money.

One and half years ago I moved out of my parent's house and into another house with my boyfriend. Don't get me wrong, I love living with him. But holy hell does it come with a full set of responsibilities that I sometimes would like to give back to....whomever wants them. Paying bills, working enough to pay said bills, clean the house, mow the yard, wash the never-ending dirty, wash laundry, dry laundry before the weekend is over, blah blah blah...

Do more freelancing - you have bills to pay and need to pursue a career.

Donate your clothes - you have too many.

Don't go out too often - you'll go broke.

Stop using the credit card - you'll never pay it off.

Meanwhile, I worry about how my boyfriend feels about all my worry. I'm sure I'm not the most delightful person to be around when I'm freaking out about silly chores and bills that are getting paid without any problems. He's so laid back about keeping a house I don't understand how he does it. So then I worry about being unbearable. It's an endless circle.

Don't wear that - you'll look unkempt.

Don't gain weight - your boyfriend will lose attraction to you.

Don't believe him when he says you're not overweight - you are.

So after all this worry bombards my brain, I start to think about other people my age. My friends don't worry about their bills or cleaning their house. They go out and drink and have fun. Whereas I would prefer to stay home and tackle my responsibilities. I feel more mature than they seem.

This is where my question lies. Do anxiety-ridden people mature sooner? Personally, I feel as though the answer is "yes." I think I matured sooner than others because of my anxiety over responsibilities.