Content Warnings: anxiety disorder, anxiety attack
Dear friend,
There has been something on my mind lately that I want to share. I’ve been self-reflecting on a lot of my past experiences with mental health, and I have come to realize that I’ve been silently suffering with anxiety, but was too scared to even admit it to myself.
I would often tell myself, “ignore it, don’t give yourself one more thing to worry about.” This continued for years and years. Anytime I left my house, I’d have this sinking feeling in my chest. My breathing quickened, and I felt an ache all over my body. Sometimes the pain was so bad that I’d turn back home to cool down. The number of times I called in sick for work, not really knowing what to say….
I had a feeling it was anxiety, but saying the word made me feel like a victim to myself, which is a pretty scary place to be, with your own brain and body doing this to you. Thankfully, there is hope, and it just takes a bit of courage to seek help. I recently started going to therapy, and I can confidently say that I have seen a massive improvement in my mental health already. For those who have been considering going to therapy, I hope you can take this as a sign to start. Your mental health matters <3
Sincerely,
A friend
