I think we have all heard the quote "it gets better". I used to love the phrase. It motivated me, it gave me hope. But today, I don't have the same feelings towards it.

As someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety for around 5 years now I'm a bit more realistic with myself. A few years ago I had a really great summer and was so happy. I thought I was fixed somehow. I thought I wasn't going to struggle anymore.

I remember I was watching a Shane Dawson video and he said something to the extent of "it doesn't get better, you just get better at dealing with it". That has stuck with me ever since I saw that video.

A lot of my depressive episodes and panic attacks directly correlate with what's happening in my life at the time. Life is what causes my biggest issues. While I understand it's different for everyone I know that over the years I have learned how to deal so much better.

A few years ago I had a panic attack because I was late to work and sat in my car and cried and then called my mom. I felt like the world was ending and that being late to work was the worst thing ever. Fast forward to my most recent panic attack I was at work. I realized I was having an attack and worked through it. I continued working because I knew I could. I made sure to breathe deeply and in 10 minutes I had calmed down.

I have been able to adapt to my illness. I still struggle but I am so much better now at dealing with it. We all have incredible strength that grows the more we struggle. I now am not scared of the times my emotional rollercoaster will nosedive.

Who knows, maybe one day it really will get better. But I don't think any of us should be waiting for that to happen. Life is hard and the best thing to do is figure out the best way to make it through. I believe that it doesn't necessarily get better, but that we all get better at dealing with life.