Yes, it is a thing

Anxiety does exist. As much as we all who experience it wish it was an actual object that we could grab out of our bodies and throw away for good, it is an intense emotion engraved in each and every one of us. Unfortunately, for some of us, our relationship with anxiety is much more extreme than compared to others. Anxiety disorders are considered the most common mental health illness found in the United States affecting approximately 40 million adults or 18% of the population (NIH). Many other disorders and illness branch out from anxiety. Popular one’s found in today’s society include Panic disorder, Social Anxiety disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Major Depressive Disorder, and many more! Anxiety disorders are developed through a complex set of risk factors including genetics, brain chemistry, personality and life events (NIH). Yes, anxiety as well as all other mental health illness do exist. Do not allow anyone to tell you differently.

And yes, it is hell

Based off first hand experiences, anxiety has gotten the best of me one too many times. Because of anxiety, I have experienced with sleepless nights, changes in my eating habits, mornings when I can’t get myself out of bed, random crying break outs and many other un-needed effects. Certain triggers can bring me from an all-time high to a very deep low. Some days are beyond great while others I would rather not speak of. Anxiety has a very sneaky way of making an incredible moment go straight to shit. Anxiety is not an easy disease to overcome. Nothing about Anxiety is easy.

It is different for everyone

No two people dealing with anxiety experience the exact same things. Whether is the extremity of their anxiety, their triggers, the way they handle and cope with it, the length of time they have dealt with it, etc., everybody has a different aspect of their illness with anxiety. There is no ‘one way’ or ‘one type of anxiety’. Everyone who experiences anxiety experiences it differently.

I do what I can to manage it, but everyone copes with it in their own way

What is so interesting about everyone dealing with anxiety is everyone finds comfort in treating and coping with their anxiety is various ways. Soon after being diagnosed, my primary doctor suggested many ways to handle it; medications, psychologists, journaling, making time to do things that I enjoy, finding someone I could constantly find support within. The list could go on forever. But as I sit here knowing that my way of treating my disease is through medications and seeing a psychologist once a week, I know that my type of treatment may not work for everyone! Others around me that I am close with that deal with anxiety also, cope and handle it very differently! Some do a lot of free writing, some talk about it all the time while some choose not to talk about it at all. Everyone’s way of juggling their emotions are all different. But at the end of the day, whatever makes you content as well as comfortable with yourself and your anxiety, keep it up!!

Do not let it define you…

Yes, anxiety is a very powerful disease and sometimes it makes you feel out of control within yourself. That is normal! But just know that anxiety does not define who you are as an individual! You have so much more found deep within you that makes you into the incredible person you are! As easy as it can be sometimes to think that anxiety is what makes you into the person you are, remember that it is not! The potential, dreams, and outlooks that you have created for yourself have so much more influence on the person you are and want to be then anxiety ever will! Never lose sight of yourself because of false negatives your body signals you due to anxiety. The power is all yours, don’t let anxiety ever take that away from you!

… And know that you are not alone!

Until I was diagnosed with anxiety, I was not aware of the number of people I have been surrounded by who experience with anxiety too! I promise, you are not the only one. Even the ones that I am most close to who don’t experience with increased anxiety have been the most supportive and remarkable individuals. I know I can always count on them for someone to talk with, a shoulder to cry on and someone who can always put a huge smile on my face when my anxiety gets the best of me. Know too, it is okay to talk about it! In today’s society, mental illness in general has been so silenced and looked down upon, it is disgusting. Mental Illness is a great problem in today’s Public Health System. Make it aware! It is time to make a change.

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