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What Anxiety ACTUALLY Feels Like

I have a pet elephant that sleeps on my chest sometimes

Nikki Borgel

Mar 06, 2018

Susquehanna University

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Kinga Cichewicz via Unsplash

I'll be the first to admit that I'm pretty new to the world of anxiety. It's something I've only been struggling with for less than a year which I'm extremely grateful for. One thing I've learned so far is that anxiety manifests itself in a lot of different ways. Some days it feels very internal and in my head. Others it's completely visible on my body. There are a lot of people in my life that have never experienced anxiety and don't know what it means to feel anxious, so I've been working on a little list of descriptors that might help people without anxiety understand those of us with it just a little better. Here are X things anxiety ACTUALLY feels like.

1. Like the one thing you're worried about is literally breathing down your neck

2. Like all the muscles in your body are trying to wring water out of themselves

3. Like a balloon keeps repetitively inflating under my lungs

4. Like an elephant is napping on my chest

5. Like my ribcage is bloated

6. Like a swarm of bees is flying through your veins

7. Like you ran an entire marathon without getting up

8. Like I'm becoming a shake weight

9. Like I'm locked in a cage watching everyone else function like actual humans without me

10. Like my body floated away from my mind in 20 directions

11. Like I'm in hell and I'm already dead

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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What Anxiety ACTUALLY Feels Like

I have a pet elephant that sleeps on my chest sometimes

1. Like the one thing you're worried about is literally breathing down your neck

2. Like all the muscles in your body are trying to wring water out of themselves

3. Like a balloon keeps repetitively inflating under my lungs

4. Like an elephant is napping on my chest

5. Like my ribcage is bloated

6. Like a swarm of bees is flying through your veins

7. Like you ran an entire marathon without getting up

8. Like I'm becoming a shake weight

9. Like I'm locked in a cage watching everyone else function like actual humans without me

10. Like my body floated away from my mind in 20 directions

11. Like I'm in hell and I'm already dead

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The struggles of having an RBF are all too real

1. People asking if you're mad at them.

2. Those people who hand out flyers don't always try to stop you.

3. Creepy guys telling you to smile.

4. "I thought you were a bitch when I first met you."

5. People telling you you'd be "so much prettier if you smiled."

6. Doing your makeup and looking great, which somehow intensifies the bitch face.

7. Regularly explaining "it's just my face."

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

That moment that someone you never looked twice at suddenly makes you do a double take out of no where.

But you can't have a crush, that's outrageous. It's all in your head.

Because you don't have a crush, there's no reason to tell anyone about anything. Right?

But then they do something irresistible and you start to lose it.

Now accepting the fact you have a crush, you have to keep it under control.

Then there's the part where you tell your friends who will claim they called it.

They'll be excited and cheer you on. That's until they realize that your crush is all you'll be talking about.

Your obsession has become so bad, that your Facebook stalking is getting out of control.

But your friends will try and help move things along any way they can. That doesn't mean it will be any helpful though.

As time goes on, you start having fantasies about the two of you and it's starting to scare you a little.

You can't focus on anything because all your attention is on them and everything they do.

Anybody who comes near your crush is now an enemy, and you are willing to fight for your crush.

When you see them, you act like an idiot. Trying to hide your feelings may not be as discrete as you think.

Keeping your feelings inside will start to be harder and harder until you can't keep it inside anymore.

Who knows, maybe it will work out? Take a chance.

Everybody hurts sometimes.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1. You feel like an elder.

2. You may feel lonely.

3. Senioritis is more real than ever.

4. You may feel a little down sometimes.

5. Fear of missing out won't be as real.

6. You are a college pro.

7. You'll have more free time.

8. You're happy you're still in school.

9. You feel like a guru.

10. You continue to grow.

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