Living With Anxiety

Y'all, it's about to get deep. I've suffered with anxiety for a long time, about 9 years now. It changes as time goes on, different things bother me. So many people suffer with anxiety disorders, myself included. I've always been shy and kept quiet about the struggles I was facing, but I've learned that there's nothing wrong with the way I feel. Like I said, anxiety is a very common thing for people to deal with, and although everyone is different, there are a lot of things that we can agree on. Every single person feels anxious and nervous about something, but some people fear everything around them. It's no fun way to live, but it gives you an entire new perspective and a strong testament. Here are some things that we face every day.

• We all have our triggers. Everyone is different. We all have little things that bother us and set us off. It can be really simple things, too. I, for example, am set off by sickness. Leaving my house scared me to death for a long time, and while I still struggle with it, I'm facing it. Some people are triggered by large crowds, small rooms, certain phrases (never say the words "Are you okay?" to me), and so many other things. When you learn someone's trigger(s), RESPECT THEM. 
• We know our fears are irrational. Stop reminding us. We know. We are fully aware of the situations, but reminding us just makes us feel crappy. Simple as that. 
• We aren't freaks. Although we may see the world through foggy, anxiety-clouded goggles, we can still function. Maybe we have to do our certain routines to feel safe in an environment, but we can do it, and we will.
• Every day poses a new challenge. Maybe it's just me, but I seem to meet a new trigger every single day. Something new sends me into a panic attack every day. It happens. Uncertainty is the most intimidating thing, and it's always looming right ahead. Maybe we're a little OCD sometimes, but being in control is the body's natural instinct. 
• We don't just pop happy pills. Yes, medication helps many people. Yes, some people abuse these medications. But for the majority, medication is simply a way to relax the body to allow the mind to be in full control. It takes away the shaky fuzziness of panic attacks, allowing the person to think themselves out of the attack. 
• Here is a list of things to NEVER say to someone with anxiety. EVER. I cannot stress #2 enough. If you tell me to "calm down," I will most likely yell at you. Because, seriously, wouldn't I already be calm if it was that easy?????

Yeah, it's deep. It's a big deal. And it's a lot more common than you may believe. So there's a little something about me. 

xoxo, a.