For some reason, there's a competition to see who has it the worst.

Who has the “worst” anxiety and who went/is going through the “worst” depression, as if that’s what it takes for people to actually care. We ride other people's anxious feelings off because we feel they're "faking".

We act like that person is just saying they have depression because they want attention. We sulk in our own self-hatred and automatically feel like we have it the worst. I did this all the time, and still do, unfortunately. People do this to me, as well. Anytime someone so much as mentions anxiety or depression, or any mental illness similar to these, there’s a certain scoff made by someone in the room. Even after the person continues to talk about it and how it has affected them, there’s that underlying doubt that it’s even true.

We’ve all been guilty of this. However, why are we not just there for each other? Even if a person does have it "better" than you do or did, they are hurting. Even if they're posting on social media to get attention about the matter, it's a cry for help: a common misconception. We need to stop not being there for others dealing with horrible things just because we feel we have dealt with more horrible things than them and they "don't realize how good they have it."

Everyone's anxiety is different. Everyone deals with depression in a different way. But it feels the same; it all feels like a never-ending downward spiral that’s impossible to climb up; you know this. And if you've been through it, or are going through it now, I am sorry. I am sorry that you have to go through life terrified of social encounters, or when the next anxiety attack strikes. I'm sorry that you had or have to put on a smile for the world when all you want to do is go home and stare blankly at a wall until you fall asleep, or cry a never-ending cry.We need to stop trying to see who has it the worst and just be there for one another through their personal worst.

They will never experience the pain you’ve gone through just like you will never experience theirs. Pain is something we should never try to compare; pain is pain. I've learned that it is not effective in any way. Do not compare a person's struggle to your own and ride it off as if they have it perfect. Be there for them and help them build their strength back up. You know what it feels like to legitimately hate everything; you know what it feels like to have a crippling fear of the world. Even if no one was there for you, be there for them. That's all we can do.