Living with anxiety in a world that doesn't understand it can be frustrating, confusing and well..anxiety inducing. I struggle with my anxiety every day, and it's hard. We live in a world where most mental disorders come with a stigma. God forbid someone to find out you're on medication to help you cope or that you see a therapist to help you talk through things. So many people think anxiety disorders aren't real or that they aren't serious, but I and so many others can tell you they're wrong.
Telling me to calm down because there's nothing to be anxious about is like looking at a person with asthma and saying, "What do you mean you can't breathe? Look at all this air." I'm well aware that it must seem crazy to you that I have to take medicine every day to take the edge of my anxiety and keep myself functioning properly. I'm sure that you find it all too convenient that I can't explain this feeling in a way that helps you see why I struggle.
I was asked to describe my anxiety once and I just couldn't do it. How do you look at someone and explain that sometimes a room of 50 strangers is perfectly fine but sometimes a room of 20 people that you actually know makes you so anxious or nervous that you could cry? How do you explain to a guy on a date that you plug your ears at the beginning of the movie because the noise makes your heart pound in a way that makes you uncomfortable? It's hard and it's embarrassing, but negative reactions make it worse.
There will always be people who don't understand. I can't count how many times someone has seen me take my anxiety medication and stared at me like I was sick or broken. So I'll step out of my comfort zone and try to explain it to them only to be met with something along the lines of, "Oh there's medicine for that? I didn't think it was a real thing." I'm so sorry if this has ever happened to you because I know how disheartening it can be to have your feelings tossed aside.
There will always be people who think you're lying for attention or to get out of things. Ignore them. You are doing the best you can and that is all that matters. Please don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and ask for help. I know that can be terrifying but there is absolutely NO shame in needing a little extra help. Your health is important and that absolutely includes your mental health.
Part of me wants to be angry at these people that don't even try to understand how hard it can be, but I know they can't help it. How could they possibly understand the struggle if they're "normal?" guess what I want out of this is for everyone to be a little more understanding. If you're someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder, cut people who aren't some slack. If you're lucky enough not to be affected by a mental disorder, try to put yourself in our shoes before judging.
And most of all, be kind. You never know what your actions or words will mean to someone.
