From the time I was in middle school I have always felt as if I’ve had this inner turmoil of constant worrying, nervousness, and stress. I’ve always thought that these persistent feelings were just things that everybody experienced. It didn’t hit me until my junior year of high school that the things I had been feeling were, in fact, symptoms of anxiety.

Anxiety for me

Although anxiety sufferers tend to exhibit similar symptoms, we all have different triggers that cause our anxiousness. Social situations and tests are external triggers for me, but most of the time my anxiety manifests itself in my own thoughts. My mind always has me running to the worst case scenarios even about the most miniscule and insignificant things. Worry and anxiety can have me feeling beat down, invaluable, cautious, and at times a little hopeless that I could ever be happy or content with myself and my work.

Anxiety Lies

Simply put, anxiety is a liar. It creeps into your mind, even your heart if you let it, to steal your joy and sense of worth. It will try to tell you that nobody likes you, you’re so weird, you don’t fit in, everyone’s judging you, something is bound to go wrong, you’re going to embarrass yourself, and you will never feel “normal.” However, this could not be further from the truth. In Philippians 4:6-7 it says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Looking deeper into this verse should give us great comfort in knowing that God sees us in our anxiety and worry and promises to take our fear away if we let Him.

Conclusion (well, kind of)

Now, I’d like to say that I have some kind of conclusion or resolution to this article about I have overcome my anxiety and am doing well, living without a care in the world, but that’s not true either. Every day is a struggle to keep my mind right and focused on the here and now, not on the uncontrollable future. Taking one thing at a time and reminding myself that I am okay just the way I am are just the simple things that help me day to day.