I have both anxiety and depression. I don't speak much of it, but it is time for that to change. Mental illness is a part of who I am and I have learned to accept that. Two years later, I have just now accepted it. And that's OK. However, just because I accepted it does not mean that it vanishes or that I can control its nature. I have just become more aware of it in my life and learned how to manage.

These are a few things I wish you knew about my life with anxiety AND depression. Hopefully, this can help you if you are struggling as well to accept it as a part of who you are and understand what life is like with it.

Just because I may appear happy on the outside, does not mean I am not broken on the inside. I am not weak, I am a broken girl in search of support to put the pieces back together. I do not say any of this as to "seek attention" — no, I say this to make you aware of who I am. The real me. Every day I am nervous about the day's events.

Every day, I battle pieces of my anxiety and my depression. They may not both be present at the same time — it could be one day and another the next. I could be drowning under the weight of my thoughts at any moment — trapped underneath a cold avalanche of anxiety and depression balled together. And finally, I ask you to support and love me and your friends who endure this, to not turn away. We need your comfort to get to the end of the day sometimes.