Growing up, I was always a neurotic child. I was attached to my mother’s hip and hesitated when interacting with other kids. During my freshman year of high school, I was having panic attacks on a regular basis. However, during my sophomore year, I finally started attending therapy for my disorder. I had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Essentially, anxiety could be long-term and more distressing for me.
Since I have been treated, I am now doing well as a first-year student in college. Since we are ~finally~ getting to a point where people feel comfortable being open about their mental illnesses, I thought that I should provide my outlook as well. While having an anxiety disorder can absolutely suck on some days, I think it has made me a better person for the following reasons:
1) Independence
Believe it or not, I think battling anxiety or other mental illnesses can make you more independent. During my time with anxiety, I have learned how to ask for help when necessary (because it is important to get help when you need it) which has let me gain the skills I need to battle it on my own. Through certain coping mechanisms, I have learned how to take care of myself. And ultimately, I had to want to work at it on my own.
2) Empathy
I felt that I was empathetic before, but when I found out my diagnosis, it made me understand other people more. Anxiety has made me more aware of what my friends could be going through. I try to be there for them as I would want them to be there for me.
3) Self-Care
Before knowing about anxiety, I didn’t take the whole “self-care” or “self-love” thing very seriously. Now that I have been doing well and recovering, I can safely say that all of you should take time for yourselves every once in a while.
4) Prioritizing
Sometimes, it takes the rougher times for you to know what is ~really~ important to you. Because of my anxiety, I have found things that I love and have secured what I believe in.
5) Becoming an Advocate
While writing something like this isn’t the easiest thing to do, I have made it a priority to make mental health a conversation. Getting through anxiety has made me want to help other people.
Ladies, take care of yourselves and remember: you may deal with a mental illness but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.