Even if you're not aware of it, you probably know someone with anxiety. About 3.3 million Americans struggle with the disorder, and that number just keeps growing. A lot of people don't ever get officially diagnosed either, so it's possible people you know aren't even aware they have it. Anxiety, to many people, doesn't seem important. But the truth is it's a serious mental disorder and it should be treated that way.

For as long as I can remember, I've felt different than nearly everyone around me. When I was younger, it didn't take me long to notice other kids were a lot more outgoing than I was. My mom always said I was just shy whenever I decided not to talk to people. My teachers told me I'd "grow out of it" when I confessed I was too nervous to present projects. I made friends, but they were all so much different than me; they played sports, spoke up often in class, and actually seemed to like participating in gym class. At seven years old, I couldn't understand why any person in the world would enjoy talking when it wasn't absolutely necessary. I felt sick when I even thought about having to do some of the things other people were totally fine with. Even as I got older, it only seemed to get worse.

Middle school was a confusing time for everyone as we all tried to figure ourselves out. Every day, I was nervous about being called on for an answer in class or the possibility of a kid I didn't know starting a conversation with me. Teachers started making everyone work in groups in class, and almost every day I nearly begged to work alone. I didn't even like being partnered with my friends. I missed a lot of school during that time because some days I felt so sick with nerves it was impossible to go. I wrongly assumed that once high school started, I wouldn't feel that way anymore.

Much to my dismay, I didn't magically start feeling better as soon high school started. In fact, I continued to dread any kind of social interaction for the majority of the time I was there. And when I did talk to people, I usually ended up regretting everything I'd said to the point where it kept me up all night. It wasn't until I was a junior that I decided something had to be wrong with me. I did my own research and eventually self-diagnosed myself with social anxiety. I didn't tell anyone, though, because I assumed I was the only person in my school that had it, and that it would disappoint my parents.

Not telling anyone turned out to be a terrible idea, since my parents continued tell me I'd get over being nervous eventually, and that I needed to do things like get a job and participate in school clubs even though I was too scared to. So during my senior year, I mentioned it to my doctor. After answering a bunch of questions, I was officially diagnosed with generalized anxiety.

Now I know I'm not the only person with anxiety, and that it's important to be educated on it early on. Maybe if I'd been taught about it as a kid, I'd have been saved a lot of trouble. If you think you have anxiety, it's definitely worth it to talk to someone about it. It might seem terrifying but trust me, it helps. Since I brought it up, I've received help to deal with it. While it hasn't completely gone away, I do feel much better now that I know what to do. I don't have panic attacks all the time anymore, and I'm not even that nervous about starting college next year. I still have never ordered a pizza over the phone, but maybe someday.

If you have anxiety, believe me when I say it does get better. Talking about it helps, and taking medication doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. You might not know it, but I'm sure there are other people in your life who are going through the same thing as you. It's okay to be nervous, or afraid. It's not your fault. It might feel like a battle sometimes, but you just have to always keep fighting.