Navigating Anxiety

At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with severe depression and social anxiety, nothing really bad had ever happened to me, it was just like my brain wanted me to be sad and anxious all the time.

Things used to be so bad that I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere without my mom or a close friend. Even ordering food at a restaurant brought the biggest fear.

The idea of being in public terrified me, I thought everyone would judge me for the littlest things I did.

However, I finally sought treatment, and with starting medication and having a great support system of friends and family, I was able to overcome the extreme anxiety I felt. I joined the theater program at my high school and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I know joining would have never been possible if I hadn’t decided to get help.

Although I still have my days when I feel sad and overwhelmed, I remember how far I’ve come with my mental health.

I started living by the quote, “Take the risk or lose the chance.”

Whenever I feel anxious about doing something I just remember those words. I don’t let my anxiety run me anymore, I say how I feel and experience things out of my comfort zone because you never know the outcome or if you’ll ever get the chance to do or say something again. The “what ifs” don’t control me anymore.