I began developing anxiety when I was fourteen. My family situation was certainly a source that contributed to the development. I can trace the first time I noticed my unnatural behavior back to an opportunity I was given to speak in front of a court hearing; I wanted to share my experiences with the judge and actively participate in the decisions that would greatly impact my future. I was prepared for this experience, and I desperately wanted to tell the court and my family members the reality of my life. I was a fourteen year old girl who was named a dumb blonde by her classmates as well as over-dramatic and sensitive; through the looking glass mirror effect, I truly believed every insult and assumption. I did not testify.

I realized my social anxiety contributed to the unsatisfying result and my tendency to settle. The negative impacts of anxiety continued as I struggled socially. I would not speak in class, avoided meeting new people, and did not enjoy conversing with others. The physical symptoms of my anxiety included profusely sweating, shaking uncontrollably, chest pain, and becoming physically ill at least five times a week during the school year. I decided I wanted to pursue the option of medication.

After discussing the possibilities, I decided I wanted to learn to naturally cope with social anxiety at a young age in order to take control of my thoughts and symptoms. I felt the medication may result in depleted motivation and cause me to reside in a careless state.The only way to overcome our fears is through the uncomfortable task of experiencing authentic feelings and positively dealing with each challenge to avert chaos. I did not want to use my anxiety as an excuse in any aspect of my life. In pursuit to overcome the limits of social anxiety, I began pursuing opportunities to evaluate the way others positively interacted. I noticed how two individuals would exchange compliments, discuss ideas, news, and interests. I began reading Malcolm Gladwell books to develop my vocabulary in order to build confidence and understand societal concepts. I used every uncomfortable experience to better myself as each encounter was followed by reflection. I learned to channel my anxious energy into motivation. In addition to the listed changes, I also constructed a diet that was high in vitamin B and other nutrients essential to a healthy lifestyle. It was incredibly difficult to normalize the described strategies, but it has positively changed my life.

You do not have to be on medication to cope with anxiety. While it takes a significant amount of effort and an extensive trial and error period, learning to effectively handle anxiety is crucial to a happy and healthy lifestyle. I am currently twenty; it has taken me six years of growth in order to confidently say I am successfully handling my inner challenges. My individualized coping methods do not include medication, but consist of breathing exercising, staying active, learning to remove myself from overwhelming social situations without compromising my social health, a balanced diet, learning through evaluating others, reflection, and conversation. The most challenging aspect of coping is the trial-and-error phase, and now that I have established a variety of strategies, I am comforted. While I will never be free from anxious thoughts or symptoms caused by anxiety, I have discovered an assortment of coping mechanisms that make my life enjoyable and prevent social anxiety from limiting my experiences and personal growth.

Every individual deals with anxiety