Let’s get real for a second. I struggle with anxiety. You’re probably thinking, “That’s not a big deal. Everyone gets anxiety, right?” Yes, everyone gets anxiety. It’s a normal evolutionary trait that humans developed to protect them from danger. However, I have anxiety disorders. My body overreacts and creates too much anxiety even when there’s no reason to. Combine that with a very low threshold for anxiety, and I’m basically an anxious mess pretty much all the time. It often impacts my physical health.

I’m having trouble even writing about this. I don’t like sharing this with other people. It makes me feel weak or inferior when people know about it. In fact, I’ve gotten really good at hiding my struggles. I’ve spent much of my life trying to cover it up before I was even diagnosed. Most people don’t notice the little tremble in my voice when I speak, the way my eyes tear up in conversations, or how I consciously change my body language to appear more confident than I feel. My heart is racing and my fingers are shaking while I type this.

But we need to destigmatize anxiety and anxiety disorders; that starts with being okay with our own struggles. That doesn’t mean glamorizing it or romanticizing it as many people do. It means getting raw and real. It means talking about it and being as open as possible. This blog post is my first step to doing just that. I have to learn to be okay with not being okay.

If you, too, have anxiety disorders, know that you are not alone. It’s estimated that up to 30% of the population suffers from some kind of anxiety disorder. That is a lot of people. Many of those people are undiagnosed. If you believe you have an anxiety disorder, I urge you to see a doctor and talk to them about it. Get the treatment and support that you need.

And if you ever just need someone to talk to, I’m here. 🙂

Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank Him for all He has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ.
❤️
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT