Sometimes, it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning. I know we all know the feeling of not wanting to get up because we’re tired, or maybe we don’t want to leave the coziness of our beds to go to that 9 AM class we haven’t paid an ounce of attention to.

However, I’m talking about something different right now. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to get out of bed in the morning because my body physically won’t let me find the strength to push my anxiety to the side to start my day. I know to some of you, this may seem sort of ridiculous. It’s like, just figure it out, right? We all have things going on, but we all still get up and start our day.

Well, I have an update for you. I have anxiety, and I have it bad. While some days are harder than others, I have made a conscious decision in my mind to absolutely, under no circumstances whatsoever, let my anxiety determine my happiness.

A common misconception about people struggling with anxiety is that we hate being social. Well, if you know me at all, you know that isn’t true. Sure, sometimes it gets overwhelming to be in huge crowds, but at the end of the day, I’m a huge extrovert. I thrive in group settings, and I can almost always be found with my friends.

In all honesty, forcing myself to be around people is a huge distraction from the internal struggle I have. I have been so lucky to find a group of people in my life who push me to be the best version of myself, and they constantly calm me down in times of distress. Being around people constantly makes me feel better, and it is all a reminder of why the anxiety won’t tear me down.

While my friends and family are a huge help, the main reason my anxiety won’t win is because I won’t let it. I am tired of feeling sorry for myself and I am tired of staying home to miss out on fun events because I don’t want to get out of bed. I’m making a conscious effort to push myself out of my comfort zones because I am better than my anxiety makes me out to be. I know who I am, what I want to be, and how I want to get there.

My anxiety is a roadblock on my path to success, but it isn’t enough to stop me.

It won’t hold me back, and it most definitely won’t convince me I’m not good enough to achieve everything that I see in my future. I am proud of who I have become, and there is no end to all that I will do. It starts now, and it starts with me using my voice to tell everyone that my anxiety will not win.