Anxiety (noun): a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Do you every jokingly say? "I think I'm having an anxiety attack?" Well, sometimes, it isn't really a joke. Anxiety is a serious problem for many young people, myself included, and I feel it's time for our generation to start talking about it. No one should be ashamed that sometimes they can't control their level of anxiousness in situations, but instead people should be more aware that it can seriously affect some individuals.

In my junior year of high school, I began to suffer from extreme anxiety from school, life, my first job, etc. It was tough to deal with and I began to find myself skipping school a lot just to avoid dealing with my problems. I would toss and turn, and end up staying awake at all hours of the night. I would worry about everyone around me and every little thing all the time. It really took a toll on me.

It got to a point that my mom started to see the changes in me and decided I needed to seek "help." Let me just say, that word, help, is in no way meant to be as harsh as it comes out, or as harsh as how I first took it when my mom suggested it. Help is meant to be there for comfort and improvement. Whether you're suffering from anxiety, depression, etc., help is always there for you. So my mom decided that I should talk to a psychologist for young adults.

After just a few sessions, I already felt an improvement in my attitude. Just being able to vent and get out everything I had been feeling inside was a weight off my shoulders. So I write this letter to you all as an outlet for hope. Seek a way to unleash your anxiety in any way you can. Talk to someone, try meditation, find any activity to distract your mind, or maybe ask your doctor about an approved medication. Do not hide in fear of something you cannot help. Am I 100 percent over my anxiety? Absolutely not, but I find new ways to cope with it every day. It is time our generation starts addressing our problems rather than letting them bottle up inside us.