It saddens me how ill informed people are about mental heath, and how quickly people who aren't affected by mental illnesses judge people who are. From someone that passively struggles with social anxiety, panic disorder, and slight PTSD from early on in my childhood, I have heard it all. From "you're making it up!" to "why don't you just chill out?". Actually, most people would never know how much I really struggle. I'm on a dance team, I was in a sorority for a long period of time. I can be outgoing and I make friends really easily. I guess people don't realize that sometimes I have to pull over while driving on the highway because I feel a panic attack coming on, or that every time I'm in a room with a large group of people I periodically have to close my eyes and conduct deep breathing exercises. I've grown up ashamed of my illnesses. I feel like people are shunned upon for nothing other than ignorance. So on behalf of everyone that secretly struggles on a day to day basis, you aren't alone.

1. "Aren't you just being dramatic? I mean, you can't really feel like you're dying for no reason."

I hear this one all the time. Especially for those of you that suffer from panic attacks, a lot of people will misunderstand this for a plea for attention or over dramatization of a situation. No. Anxiety attacks are a clinically defined epidemic where an increase of fear, irrational thoughts, and panic can be brought upon itself without reason, sometimes from chemical imbalances in the brain or just a phenomenon that cannot be explained.

2. "You're just making it up to avoid situations/experiences/etc."

Story time. Right now I am taking Public Speaking, and like I said earlier, I don't do well in large groups of people. So naturally, I am not a public speaker. My first speech I was able to calm my nerves enough to deliver it. My second, not so much. I began speaking, suddenly my heart started racing beyond control, next my vision was going blurry. These were all physical phenomenons that were completely out of my control. So I finished the speech as abruptly as I could. After class I told my professor that I was prepared, but my anxiety got in the way of my delivery. I still ended up getting a C on my speech. It doesn't matter how much I prepared, I couldn't control my anxiety. People often accuse people of making up their mental illnesses to excuse them from certain circumstances. This makes me sick. There is nothing we can do to control how we feel, and never explain yourself to anyone that accuses you of faking a mental illness.

3. "You have anxiety, obviously you won't be able to handle this."

Then theres the latter, where people get over sensitive about your mental illness. I used to struggle with this as a kid, after having multiple panic attacks and word getting around school that I had anxiety, people wanted to play with me less. They didn't want me to get "freaked out". One thing I have learned from therapy and other people that struggle with panic disorder is slight exposure to what makes you anxious. Over time, you are able to face the situations that give you anxiety, only if you do it gradually. Don't ever force yourself full on in something that triggers a panic attack. Always gently submerge yourself.

4. "You won't be able to succeed if you let your anxiety get in the way."

This is just pure ignorance. But I have personally heard this one. If anything, anxiety makes you think more than the average people, however sometimes irrationally, I always over prepare myself, submerging myself into more information that way I will feel less anxious on my understanding on a subject. Maybe sometimes I won't be able to handle certain situations like the average person, but in others I will excel further since I have submerged myself further in all the information I can. If that makes any sense.

5. "You'll never be happy with yourself if you are always anxious."

The beautiful thing about having a mental illness is how aware you are of your mental health in general. No, I am not depressed. I have anxiety. That doesn't mean I don't love myself, or my life, or the people surrounding me. Yes, it's harder for me to retain relationships due to lack of understanding of what goes on in my head. But that's what makes each individual relationship mean so much more to me, is the fact that they are willing to handle me at my worse and support me to get better.

There is a lot of resources available if you have anxiety and you are seeking help. Don't fall victim to the disease. On campus there are disabilities centers that are willing to help make accommodations for you. Afraid of what your friends will think? If they are your real friends, they will support you no matter what. Be open, and be accepting. There are so many people all over the nation that suffer with anxiety, you will never be alone. There is therapy and medications for you. You will be okay.