If you have anxiety, then you understand that it is almost like living in a parallel universe where nothing seems to make sense. I think today that the word anxiety is an umbrella term and it gets used too frequently. There is worrying about something and then there is constantly worrying about something to the point where you have anxiety about a certain situation. Also, I’m not saying that if you worry a lot that you have anxiety and need to be put on medication, I am not a doctor. But, as someone who has anxiety, I know what it feels like.
When you have anxiety, you literally feel like you are in a whole different world. You can be sitting around your friends, and they can be talking about something, and you are sitting there hearing the words but you are feeling like you are sitting outside of the conversation. You have too much going on in your mind to think about what is being said. Everything that is said, you are over-analyzing. So if your friend says they can’t stand when someone does something, you think if you did that, and then you start to worry that you did that. By the time you are done worrying about this, you have officially convinced yourself that you are basically the anti-Christ.
When you have anxiety, your mind never stops. You literally think all the time. You think what could I have done differently, or should I have done something different. You start to think that maybe you made all the wrong choices. You start to think that maybe you shouldn’t be in the career path or major you choose. You start thinking that maybe you aren’t smart at all. Maybe you should just drop out and work at a fast food restaurant. Then you start thinking that they wouldn’t even hire you. It is a never ending spiral of events that throws you into a depression mode.
The worst thing about anxiety is the panic attacks. Even if you don’t really have panic attacks, I’m sure you can relate to feelings at least once. You are watching the news and something comes on the television about something in another country, for example a terrorist attack. You start to think, “what if that was me?” Your hands start to become sweaty, and you can feel your heart beating faster and faster in your chest. All of a sudden, you are breathing heavier, your heart feels like it is going to beat right out of your chest. You feel like you all of a sudden can’t breathe because you can’t catch up to the way your body is reacting. Then, because you have anxiety, you start to have anxiety about your anxiety. You start thinking why can’t I just be normal or why can’t I calm down.
A less dramatic one would probably be a school scenario. Let’s say you are sitting in class and you are passing around papers. You already got your paper but then someone in the back of the classroom says that they ran out. You start to worry for them. You already have your paper so why is it bothering you? It’s not actually bothering you, but it is bothering your anxiety.
Anxiety is like a little pest inside someone. It’s like an evil little mind trying to take over your body. It’s making you overthink and worry about things that aren’t even in your control or even have to deal with you directly. It makes your mind wander. It makes you paranoid. Anxiety is a horrible thing, so you shouldn’t take it lightly. You shouldn’t tell someone with anxiety to stop worrying because not only are they just going to worry more because they now think that they are abnormal, but they are also not in control of it. Anxiety is not a switch that you can just turn off and on.
Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for anxiety. You can take medicine to help control it but other than that you have to live with it. So find something that works for you. Maybe it will help to talk to someone. Maybe it’s reading, going for a walk or painting. Find whatever works for you and stick to it. Don’t get too discouraged with yourself. You aren’t the only one battling with anxiety. Even though it feels like you are alone and the only one, there are tons of people out there that have it. One of the most important things to remember is, you are not alone.
