For as long as I can remember I've dealt with anxiety. At seven my mother probably didn't know the difference between an anxiety attack and a tantrum. She took my quietness in situations and withdrawal from social aspects of our life as rude and uncalled for, and to be honest, I don't blame her. The idea of her child dealing with anxiety didn't occur to her, until I was smoking weed and popping pills to calm my nerves in high school.

For the majority of my life I felt as if dealing with any type of mental illness was something to be ashamed of and, because of that mentality, it took years to get the help I needed, and by the time I did get help, I was diagnosed with a panic disorder, social anxiety, depression and PTSD.

Nobody should ever feel ashamed to ask for help.

But sometimes labeling the problem, creates an even larger stigma on a persons struggle

I hated myself for coming clean about the physical abuse I went through as a child and did everything I could to take it back. I didn't want to ruin my abuser's life. In my mind the abuse was my fault. I hadn't been a good daughter, I deserved what I got.

I was angry for coming clean.

Now three years after being diagnosed, I am still coming to terms with aspects of my mental illnesses everyday. Some days, I hit rock bottom, and other days I am at the top of the world.

So here are 7 things I want my loved ones to know as I continue to conquer and make progress with my mental illness:

1. I am more than my mental illness.

If you truly want to be supportive of someone with anxiety or any mental illness remind them that you appreciate the individual behind the illness. Recognize that they are more than just their disorder.

2. We can get tired easily.

Anxiety is exhausting. It seems like the only people that understand how tiring it really can be is people with anxiety themselves. Anxiety causes people to live in hyper-tense states. They are always on alert, their mind is very rarely settled, and their body is always ready to fight or flight. With the hypertension comes fatigue.

3. We can get overwhelmed easily.

We are aware of everything going on around us. Every noise, every action, every smell, every light, every person, every object.

When encouraging someone with anxiety to hang out, remember the activities you may enjoy can be a trigger for someone with anxiety.

For example, this last spring I was studying for an exam with friends at UST, when the group decided to go play volleyball. First, I would like to make clear that my volleyball skills are atrocious, and secondly, I only knew one of the kids in the friend group. My anxiety went from 0-100 in under 30 seconds, because I didn't know how to respectfully decline. Always remind the person with anxiety, that it is not an expectation of them to participate if they feel uncomfortable.

4. We are well aware that our anxiety can be irrational at times.

But you continuously reminding us we are being irrational does not help the situation.

5. Thanks for sticking by us no matter what.

Growing up, I was always considered the high maintenance girl, which only continued in college. Many people do not have the patience or knowledge to deal with the range of emotions I feel as someone who deals with multiple mental illnesses, but to those who have never left my side, thank you.

6. Change can be difficult, even if we know to expect it.

I'm not saying we don't like change. Not at all. It can just take us longer to adjust, and adapt to the new situation. We find comfort in the familiarity of things, so just be patient as we find our new comfort zone in these new situations.

7. Don't assume us taking personal time as an excuse to ignore you.

Sometimes we just like our space.

Lastly, to anyone struggling with any form of mental illness know this; no matter how many hard days are ahead of you, there will be better ones.