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Health and Wellness

What It's Like Living With Anxiety

You are not alone.

Erika Sheets

Mar 05, 2018

Michigan State University

367

https://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2018/02/28/6365543529896376932121983673_drowning.jpg

Anxiety is a big issue too many people know too well. It's like an endless pool of endless rambling and painful thoughts.

No matter how much you swim or how hard you try, you just end up drowning in your thoughts. I've been anxious since my younger years and it's not always easy. "Just don't worry," "You'll be fine," "Just breathe," and "Take a day off" are some of the countless things people have told me over the years and let me tell you, they don't always work.

Sure, those people had great intentions. Sure, they were trying to help and I know that; trust me I know. Unfortunately the brain of an anxious person doesn't take the advice as well as we hope.

Anxiety is different for every single person it takes as its victim; it consumes your life. It's like a bully that's in your mind 24 hours a day and constantly picks and picks at your brain until you literally feel like you're going mad. Anxiety makes you feel so much insecurity about yourself that you cant even look at yourself in the mirror because you don't like what you see and it never EVER changes. It gives you more and more insecurity as you do things during the day, and sometimes you think "What if I'm not doing this right?" and "What if I mess this up?" and an endless amount of "What ifs".

Anxiety plants thoughts in your mind and those thoughts linger in your mind throughout the day. They keep you up thinking about things that normal people would think were the most ridiculous and wild thoughts, like, "What if I never wake up if I go to sleep?" "What if I have a bad dream?" or "What if I have a bad day tomorrow?" It never stops no matter how hard you try. It seems to always be there in the back of your mind.

Anxiety is a battle you face; this battle may not be understood by people who have never experienced such horrifying circumstances. Anxiety is life-changing and ANXIETY IS REAL. You should never take anxiety lightly and if you feel like you are going to harm yourself in any type of manner or just need to talk to someone for advice, contact the hotlines listed below. And remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

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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 It's Like Living With Anxiety

You are not alone.

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All names should be "unisex names."

1. Communicating via email can be awkward.

2. Appointments usually accompany weird looks.

3. Introducing yourself to someone is never without a hitch.

4. You’ve probably thought about changing your name.

5. You’re often asked why you have the name you do.

6. You get excited when you meet someone of your gender with your name.

7. You feel awkward when you meet someone of the opposite gender with your name.

8. You’ve had someone say to you, “I knew a [your name], but they were [your opposite gender].”

9. You’ve heard a bad joke/pick-up line or two about your name before.

10. People are surprised when they see you.

11. You’re extra sensitive to other unique or unisex names.

12. You’ve fought with your parents about it.

13. All things considered, you’re happy your name makes you unique.

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

I get it... I'm pale.

1. At least I can't lose you in a crowd!

2. Oh my goodness your skin is like glow-in-the-dark.

3. Can't you just get fake tan?

4. Do you tan or just burn?

5. Your kids are going to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost!

6. *holds arm against your arm* Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. *holds pale arm against another pale arm* Aw, at least you're darker than her!

8. I laid out by the pool almost every day over break!

9. I haven't used sunscreen since I was, like, five.

10. *adjusts selfie lighting to their face* Oops, where'd you go??

11. *after working out* Your face is SO red!

12. *wears white* Look! You're all one color!

13. You need to get some sun.

14. Aren't you excited for summer?

The struggle bus is real.

1. Child prodigies:

2. Hearing other musicians in the practice room next door and accepting that you will never be as talented as them:

3. That anxiety that takes over before every performance:

4. Taking a million 0 credit classes:

5. When there's a paper due the next day, but you have to attend yet another concert in order to pass a 0 credit class:

6. When your friends try to encourage you after a performance, even though you are criticizing everything in your mind:

7. Knowing that there's always that one professor during juries:

8. The oh-so-attractive band/choir uniforms:

9. Realizing that a college campus is maybe not the best atmosphere to finish your latest composition:

10. Hearing "Oh, you sing opera? I LOVE Phantom of the Opera!" for the hundredth time:

11. When people think finals week is a breeze for you.

12. When you're drowning in the stress that comes with 18+ credits (and not to mention all those 0 credit classes) and people ask you how you are:

13. When it all comes down to it, though, you know that at the end of the day, music is your passion:

Because you need it in your life.

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6. holds arm against your arm Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. holds pale arm against another pale arm Aw, at least you're darker than her!

10. adjusts selfie lighting to their face Oops, where'd you go??

11. after working out Your face is SO red!

12. wears white Look! You're all one color!