Overcoming anxiety can be one of the most weakening and hardest things to overcome. There are good days, bad days, and sometimes in between days. Sometimes the day to day struggle can be so overwhelming that it interferes with our daily life. There are days we don’t think we'll be able to push through and other days we have the utmost confidence in ourselves. When we wake up each morning, there is no way to tell what kind of day we'll have; it’s like living a daily mystery.
Each and every day we live in fear of what is going to happen next. Each day someone with anxiety will wake up and fall asleep with a constant fear. We fear day to day activities that someone who doesn’t have anxiety would never understand. Daily activities that seem so easy such as going to the store, work, or even class can be one of the hardest things for someone who has anxiety to do. We often fear sitting in class or being at work and our anxiety comes out of nowhere. We could be there minding our own business and out of nowhere we begin to panic. We have no idea why were panicking but we just are. To many this may sound ridiculous, but to those who suffer from this it is one of the most terrifying feelings ever. Please don’t tell us to calm down or that we have no reason to panic—it will only make things worse for us.
If that isn’t bad enough, trying to get the confidence to tell someone that you have a fear of something can be one of the most challenging things to do. Thoughts start racing through your mind and you begin to panic. Are they going to judge me? Leave me? Tell someone? It can be one of the scariest moments ever. If we ask you constantly if you hate us now or if you’re going to leave, please know we cannot help it. Sometimes our anxiety speaks for us and we can’t take those words back no matter how hard we try. When we ask you those questions constantly give us reassurance that you’re not going anywhere. Hearing those words can help someone with anxiety in ways you would never imagine.
If someone you know tells you they suffer from anxiety, please do not treat us any differently. Living with anxiety can be hard enough for us to handle, begin treating us differently and it will push us over the edge. We live day to day feeling as though we are an outcast from everyone else, treating us differently will only make that feeling become reality. If you tell us something that may be a little hard for us to handle, please don’t walk away that will only make things worse. Instead give us a hug and be the shoulder we can cry on. I know it can be hard to see someone upset but in reality it will help us feel better.
Your anxiety does not define you, your strength and courage to overcome it does. It is not going to be an easy ride but I promise it will be worth it. The daily struggle is going to be hard you’re going to want to give up but I want you to remember your beautiful and things will get better. While reminding yourself of this remind yourself.
“It’s OK to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.” - Mandy Hale
