Dear Anxious Friend,

You're probably wondering why on earth anyone would be calling you a hero. Maybe you are frustrated with yourself because you had a hard time getting out of bed this morning. Perhaps you're feeling down on yourself because your thoughts were racing so quickly that you forgot to do that one homework assignment.

Are you angry about that time you chose to stay in instead of going out with your friends because your social anxiety was holding you to your bed with metaphorical shackles? Have you been thinking over and over again about that one stupid thing you said in class and how disappointed your professor looked when you got the answer wrong? Well, enough.

For the rest of this article I want you to challenge yourself not to have one, single negative thought about yourself. If this sounds tricky, do not stress. I am here to help. I want to just go ahead and tell you how amazing you are... you better not be rolling your eyes, right now. You are inspirational. Wondering why? Let me break it down for you:

When I was in middle school, I used to love a show called "The Fairly Odd Parents." Basically, it was about a little boy named Timmy who solved all life's problems with the help of two fairies who granted him his every wish. Lucky boy! Well, I, having been diagnosed with clinical anxiety, was able to identify more so with Timmy's friend Elmer.

You see, Elmer had a disgusting boil on the side of his face. The boil's name was Bob. Bob talked to Elmer in a sinister voice trying to convince him to do things that he didn't always want to do. Bob often took control of Elmer's behaviors. Have I lost you? Hang in there for a few more sentences, I swear it will all come together.

People with anxiety have their own Bob's attached to them at all times. It does not necessarily manifest itself into a horrendously bulbous growth, but metaphorically it's there! Anxiety is this disgusting thing which attaches itself to our minds. It is constantly telling us how horrible and undeserving we are. It calls us names, it undermines our achievements, and it tries to convince us that we do not deserve happiness and love. It forces us to obsess over the smallest of occurrences like how awkward we might have looked sneezing in class that one time. Or, how we failed at that one random social interaction we had with that kid from our English class. People try and tell us we can get rid of our Bob's through mindful thinking, medication, plenty of sleep, and working out. However, when these things don't work our Bob's are there telling us that, once again, we've failed, which ultimately makes us feel worse.

I'm glad you decided to stick around, because this is where I tell you how stinking incredible you are...

You have this thing. This disgusting, nagging thing which tells you how badly you suck all the time...and you still have the courage to get up every morning and live life. Despite having this mental illness, you are able to make friends! You are able to go to school, to have a job, to make people smile. You work your butt off trying to suppress this awful noise and still somehow have the energy to interact with people on a daily basis.

Sure, some days are harder than others. Do not let your anxiety undermine your achievements. You are able to achieve your goals despite having anxiety...that is incredible! Sometimes you choose to stay in, you sleep in that extra hour, and you turn off your phone. Can you blame you? You are going through life experiencing something that many people out there will never have to deal with. That's why when you try to explain to your friends why you don't want to go to that party...they might look at you like you're crazy. It's okay. You work so darn hard every single day just to ignore and move past your anxiety that it is more than alright to give yourself a break once in a while.

You are the strongest person I know, without a doubt. Bob is there always trying to make you feel like a failure, but you ignore Bob and you live life anyway. You have every right to be so proud of yourself. And, on those days whenever Bob gets really rowdy and no one else seems to understand... just know, that even though you probably don't know me, there is someone out there who is rooting for you with every ounce of passion they have in them. You are my hero!