"Sorry to hear you have a mental illness"- said no one ever.

Mental illness is an issue that is widespread, and generally considered something that people should not openly talk about in public. As someone who suffers from a mental illness, I find this highly offensive. If someone is suffering from a physical illness we pity them, but most people look at mental illness with shame. I am here to help break down that wall of shame and let you know that even though you may suffer from a mental illness, it does not make you any less of a person. In fact I would say that suffering from anxiety has been both a blessing, and curse in my own life.

Some would say that we should never judge a book by its cover, others would say don't judge someone because you never know what they're going through-but how often do we follow these sayings we use so frequently?

I suffered my entire teen years and early twenties with severe anxiety. And the most crazy part of my story is that in my teens, I had no idea that what I felt even had a name. Sure, I had heard of test anxiety, but that was not like mine at all so I would have never thought what I was going through was a similar experience.

Flash forward to my early twenties, my best friend is a psych major and moves in with me. She starts noticing the things that I do and the way I constantly over think. She mentions to me during one of my severe episodes that she thinks I might have anxiety, and that I should get tested. When she first said this, I felt offended. How dare she think I have a mental illness, but then I did some research...

Everything I was feeling was anxiety. I can not even begin to explain how everything matched up like perfect puzzle pieces as I read more and more information. There were other people in this world who feel like their lungs were full of needles sometimes too. Others out there who have those same days where they can't even leave their room. I was not alone, and that was the most comforting thing. My anger from the previous conversation with my friend left my body, and suddenly I realized that I now had the tools that I needed to conquer my issue.

I being the all natural lover that I am, found natural ways to help combat my mental demons (Including supplements, and meditation). But to this day, I still get attacks. Just tonight I had one, and as soon as I realized what I was doing I made myself do breathing exercises, I took a peppermint bath and listened to white noise. I have found the things that help me combat my mental illness, but I would never trade the lessons that it has taught me about myself. Lessons like how incredibly strong I am, I deal with this everyday and I don't tell anyone, and no one gives me pity and that is okay. And not only am I strong, but I am also expanding my understanding of a new group of people. Mental Illness is no joke, and it is not funny. People lose their lives to all the time, just like cancer. This social stigma on mental illness needs to end. We need to embrace, and conquer our issues in order to move forward. No more hiding.