Have you ever wondered why you constantly think about a problem until your mind tells you its real? Have you ever convinced yourself that you should be mad at people because they might be talking about you or doing unkind things that you end up isolating yourself from everyone? This occurs to many people every day. Im writing this article to spread awareness of anxiety and depression.

I have had anxiety since I can remember. I would make myself throw up in order to come home from my best friends house because I was afraid that my parents would get hurt or even murdered. I had to watch my mother cook food for me because I was afraid I would get poisoned. I was afraid of things that I had no reason to be afraid of. I was afraid that everyone and everything was against me and out to get me.

As stated in a previous article of mine, I started seeing a psychologist when my breathing was effected by my anxiety. My anxiety allowed me to tell myself that I wasn't getting enough air, (even though I was) and caused me to hyperventilate. I remember having a panic attack in a local restaurant and the manager had to come out and offer to call an ambulance. After this incident, I was prescribed medication, and I still take it to this day.

An important thing that I want everybody struggling with anxiety and depression to know is that Help does help. Do not feel ashamed, or afraid if you seek help for your mental illness. Do not be frustrated if you feel uncomfortable on your first couple visits, it takes time to trust a person, no matter how many degrees they may have. Just remember, that psychologists and psychiatrists are here to help you and make your life a little bit easier to live. Without mine, I doubt I would be in college.

Another thing to remember is that you are not crazy. People with anxiety tend to overreact a lot. It is because we think about a problem so frequently, we make it worse than it actually is. Overthinking could cause panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and depression. Even though we know that something isn't wrong or a problem isn't that big of a deal, we think and think until it is the worst case scenario.

You are not alone. College can cause boatloads of stress. It can be caused by a heavy course load to on campus events, clubs, and obligations. With that being said, there are various places you can go to talk about your mental illness such as CAPS and workshops provided by students and faculty. So many people suffer from anxiety and depression and it sometimes helps when you talk about your problems with someone that understands and knows how you feel.

And lastly, medication DOES help. Don't get me wrong, it could take a long time to find an antidepressant that works for you. Some make you nauseous, some makes you lose sleep, and some makes you lose your appetite. But soon, after many tries, you will find the one that will help you and calm your mind. I still overthink, but I now know how to cope with it to an extent and in the long run, I am able to focus on important things, real things, that deserve my full attention.

I feel like I will always have anxiety and depression. It doesn't go away completely, and every stage of life will bring more and more stressful situations. I have just learned how to adapt with my mental illnesses and manipulate them in my favor. Even though I still get panic attacks, they don't occur as often as they used to. My smile became real, and I can actually tell myself that people aren't out to get me.

I hope this article helps people that struggle with the same things I do. These things helped me actually want to live life and not be afraid of it.