Having anxiety is an everyday struggle. I constantly worry over everything. I always feel apprehensive, nervous, restless, concerned, fearful, etc. I, for the most part, feel sick or abnormal on a given day. It makes me not want to get up in the morning, start my day, do what I need to do.

I have felt self conscious around many people because of my anxiety. In college, I've started to not like to eat around people because I feel like others are judging me. I don't like being the center of attention or being called out. I begin to dread certain events that come up because I don't want to embarrass myself during them.

I had an episode in high school when we had to do a fight or flight drill and talk about what we would do in a situation if an armed person were to break into school. I began to not feel so well, and I started to feel nauseous. I got up after not being able to take it and asked my teacher if I could go to the nurse. My vision started to go black as I walked out of the classroom and I leaned on the lockers next to me for support. My teacher noticed this and asked me what was wrong; I couldn't answer him well.

I had a hard time speaking like my voice was trapped in my throat. My teacher called for a security guard to bring a wheel chair because I didn't have the strength to stand up. I started to wheeze and not be able to breathe so well. Once I arrived to the nurses office and I saw another security guard that I knew personally, I started to cry.

This was the kind of experience that I didn't know what it was. I didn't know whether I was having a panic attack or an anxiety attack. I sure as hell didn't want to go through it again. It felt like the worst thing I've gone through.

In general, I also began to develop social anxiety. Along with not liking to eat around people in the dining hall as much anymore, I started to hesitate and not want to go out with people as much anymore. Though here and there I will because of the whole college experience.

I took advantage of the counseling services that my college has provided, so I started to talk to a counselor about my anxiety. It helps a little bit being able to talk to a professional about it and take steps to help me in certain situations.

I'm glad that I was able to get the help that I needed and if there was another person like me I'd jump at the chance to help them because it is a tough thing to go through at times. It affects me everyday with the way I feel and act in an everyday setting, but I'm getting the help I need.