Two feelings that pain so many people in their first years merging into adulthood. Both quietly sneak up and take turns twisting the knife in your back, making it harder for you to heel the harsh experience of being stabbed to begin with. Life will always be full of unexpected jabs, but for people suffering from anxiety and depression, we seem to always take a little extra time recovering mentally, emotionally, and physically from those experiences.

Because we think about these events with a different kind of brain, we feel them with a different pair of hands, and we perceive them with a different set of eyes. But they say all scars leave a story that taught us something that will stay with us. Just as the physicality of the scar on your knee from first grade has stayed with you, along with the knowledge of how to ride a bike without crashing. Although anxiety and depression are both equally unpleasant, there is so much you learn from the scars and knowledge these illnesses leave behind. You learn so much about yourself, about other people, and how strangely we as humans are connected in ways we don’t always see at first glance.

1. Coping with my anxiety has taught me that although sometimes it feels like the world may crash down on you at any moment, it will still be spinning around the sun just like it did yesterday, tomorrow.

2. Coping with my anxiety has taught me not to sweat the small stuff. There is so much more to this beautiful blue and green planet than failing an exam, saying “the wrong thing” to someone, or being late to an appointment.

3. Coping with my anxiety has taught me that shit happens. And it is completely healthy to take a break from any stressful situation to compose yourself.

4. Coping with my anxiety has taught me that things always work out. Although it may not be what you had in mind, know that it’s what’s best for you. What’s meant to be will be.

5. Coping with my anxiety has taught me perspective, what truly it important to me and what’s not. I love my family, I love my friends, and I love my dogs. And I know that no matter what ugly sweater I jump out of my cluttered closet wearing, they will all still love me.

6. Coping with my depression has taught me the true feelings of empathy. When a friend comes to me upset about something, I immediately want to help, because I know how dark and alone things can feel at times.

7. Coping with my depression has taught me to not be afraid to have deep conversation. There are a lot of things we avoid as topics, but until you are open with how you feel the heavier that thought is going to weigh on your shoulders until you let it out.

8. Coping with my depression has taught me how to appreciate the little things. Like quiet Sunday mornings, or fuzzy warm blankets fresh from the dryer.

9. Coping with my depression has taught me that good days can be great days, if you let them.

10. Coping with my depression has made me thankful for happiness. The happiness shared in laughter, in smiles, and in hugs and kisses.

11. Coping with anxiety and depression taught me that things don’t always come easy, and you to work hard for your goals.

12. Coping with anxiety and depression motivated me to improve upon myself as a person.

So rather than viewing anxiety and depression as problems other people don’t understand, think of them as life lessons and perceptions not everyone has the opportunity to learn. And keep in mind that you are not alone on these feelings. “Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” ― Mark Twain