I know, reader, you have read about a thousand articles about anxiety and the lack of understanding that surrounds it. As a new writer, my goal for my first few articles is to introduce you to who I am, and what I am about, including my anxiety. I am titling this “A Letter to My Parents,” because not only does my family help me through sometimes crippling anxiety, but my father through his PTSD, and my youngest sister with her autism, as my two other siblings as one is in the military and the other is starting life with her first full-time job. So without further ado, here’s a thank you to my parents and an introduction to me, reader, wrapped up in a little literary bow.

Mom and Dad,

I know you haven’t always had it easy with our family. You’ve fought to keep us all as healthy as possible and sometimes, despite your hardest efforts, we get hurt.

We had my anxiety diagnosed and began treatment a couple years ago but it feels like it’s just overwhelming at some points. I feel like I’m drowning with no sea surface in sight. I can’t breathe, I can’t see past the problem, and I often can’t calm myself down.

All of this being said, you have never given up on me. When I feel like I just can’t do it anymore, when I tell you I want to come home, that I want to give up, you gave me a strong “I love you,” and hang up the phone. It’s always the bit of tough love I need.

That’s not even the worst of it. I know I haven’t been the easiest kid to handle. I know that all of my medical issues have kept you both up at night, that the only comfort you got was knowing that I was okay for now. We’ve had more late night trips to the hospital and more tests run on me than I’m sure is comfortable for any parents. But through all of it, I’ve always been able to count on you both being there. I knew as soon as I called, you would be on your way, and that is something I could never take for granted.

To my dad specifically: I know I’m not really yours. I know I’m not always the easiest to get along with. However, you have always treated me like your own. You have always wanted the absolute best for me, and always wanted to treat me like a princess. You did things with me that only a father could do, something I had never gotten to experience before. For that, I could never thank you enough.

To my mom: you are my everything. All I want is to make you proud of me because you have given up so much to make me the young woman I am still growing to be. I wish I had more words to give you, but all the words in the world would not be enough to describe how much I love you.

I wish I could give you back everything you’ve given to me. I take comfort in knowing you’ll always be there to cheer me on at my matches and congratulate me on all of my accomplishments, big or small. I love you both.

Love,

Alex.