In my opinion, I feel as though many people are unaware of what anxiety is. Most people will say they have anxiety, but they really do not understand what they are saying. Some people even think it is "cool" to say that they have anxiety because somehow it is considered the norm nowadays. Well, today I am going to be discussing what having anxiety is really like so people can become more educated and hopefully learn to stop using the term so loosely.

You say you have anxiety, but do you even know what it is? I am sure all of us get a little anxious from time to time, which is completely normal, but that does not mean you have an anxiety disorder. Coming from someone who has anxiety, it can be pretty offensive when someone, who does not even know what the disorder entails, tries to poke fun at it.

Anxiety is a mental illness and it is one of the most popular disorders people are diagnosed with in the United States. I am doing a research paper on the subject, as well, for my senior seminar class in college so I know a thing or too (haha). But seriously, having anxiety is not a walk in the park for some people.

There are people who have severe anxiety symptoms that prevent them from leaving their houses sometimes because they just cannot deal with the outside world. Some people, like me, have anxiety regarding the smallest things. I know I get test anxiety really bad sometimes and I see how it affects me and my mental health in general.

Having anxiety is basically living your life constantly worrying about something and never really feeling like you can relax without something happening. Your guard is always up and sometimes it is hard to live in the moment and enjoy activities that normally bring you happiness and joy.

So, before you go around basically boasting about how you have anxiety, maybe now you will reconsider. Anxiety is a serious mental illness that many people deal with every single day and some even seek help from therapists as well. It is not something people really like talking about either. No one should be ashamed if they do suffer from anxiety either. We all just need to stick together and learn to help one another out every once in a while. The stigma surrounding mental illnesses is already a problem, and I hope one day we can beat it completely.