1. There is No One Kind of Anxiety
Everyone feels anxiety differently. There are common symptoms but the spectrum of how each person feels those symptoms is large. I love being around people, I love speaking in public and I live for adventures; my anxiety is not social.
2. I Overthink Everything
I have already lived out every worst case scenario about a good situation in my mind at least 10 times. I may already have cried about it in anticipation. I may have already acted upon it to protect myself. I analyze irrelevant and little details and feel restless at the possibility of one of the million thoughts running through my mind being true. For that reason, I need to plan in advance, I need to foreshadow as much of my future as I possibly can so I can rest assured that I have an idea of what’s to come. On the bright side, I am a great planner, I make lists for everything and I’ll remember details.
3. I Need More Reassurance Than Socially Expected
I might need to have the same conversation a couple of times. Anxiety feels like there is a voice in the back of your mind telling you that everything’s not okay, when everything actually is. I need you to remind me that it is. I need you to show me that you care so that I don’t feel like I am a burden to you. Your reassurance is what keeps me grounded.
4. I Am Overly Sensitive
I feel everything so strongly. When I am happy, I am on cloud 9. When I am sad, I am curled up in bed. When I care about someone, I give them my all. I’ll get attached, but your happiness is so important to me. I process everything around me intensely. I am able to see the bright side, and to let every little thing bring me joy because I see deeply into it.
5. I Can Get a Panic Attack Completely Out of the Blue
I’ll be fine, just watching a movie. Then before my brain can register what my body is doing, I’ll have a hard time breathing, my chest will feel like it’s closing up, I’ll feel scared and sad at the same time, I won’t know why. Then just like that, just as quickly as it came on me, it’ll go away and I’ll be okay again.
6. I Experience Random Mood Swings
I’ll do my best to hide it. Sometimes, I’ll wake up on the wrong side of the bed, have a coffee and be jumping off the walls, feel giddy and bubbly, then get really down and stressed all before noon. I do have “normal” days when I’m neutral all day, in an exceptionally good mood or in a bad mood; it’s a day by day process.
7. I Am Spontaneous and Irrational
I am not always thinking with my head because if I do I’ll get anxious. When I have a hard decision I’ll sometimes think with my heart and for that reason some of my decisions might not make sense to anyone. I often have to make quick and spontaneous decisions because I know if I linger on it, I’ll overthink.
8. I Write Everything Down
Every time I am feeling too much, I’ll write it down. I have a journal full of notes. Sometimes I’ll write letters, sometimes I’ll even read them out and give them to you because I want you to understand how I feel. I need to talk everything out, and have it all out on the table so that it doesn’t consume me.
9. I Don’t Expect You to Know the Answer
You don’t need to know the right thing to say or the right thing to do when I’m anxious. All I need is for you to be there and to remind me that I’m overthinking. It’s much easier than you think for me to be reassured by someone else.
10. My Anxiety Does Not Inhibit Me From Accomplishing Anything
If I don’t tell you, you’ll probably never know I have this internal struggle. Anxiety is only a momentary obstacle. I am still reliable, I am still happy, I am still able to perform everyday tasks, to have a career and to be in a relationship. I might have a bad day every once in awhile, but I always bounce back.