Your Anxiety Is A Liar

For those of us that grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, times were far simpler than they are today. We ran around in the dirt and drank out of the hose, not worrying about germs. We ate whatever our moms made for dinner and snacked in front of the TV, giving no thought to whether or not it was carb-loaded or gluten free. Our bodies ran on an endless marathon of playtime, and were shut off only by the streetlights turning on, or the sound of our parents screaming for us down the street. Our sadness came when our parents wouldn't let our best friend sleep over. There was no notable anxiety or depression, we were merely upset when our parents wouldn't give us money to chase the ice cream man...and that feeling faded in about 3 or 4 seconds. 

So with the invention of modern technology and added platforms to expose things, came the raised awareness of anxiety. This, in itself, was a blessing. For people who'd been feeling horrible for years, there was now a pinpoint and a place to talk about it. Educating the community on biases, diseases, and mental health is simply one of the greatest things to come out of the 21st century. But as we grow more aware of how to control and subdue these inner demons, they also have found new ways of controlling us. So let me say this up front, Your Anxiety Is A Liar. 

Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Per the ADAA, 40 million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety, or over 18% of the population. Anxiety has a way of making people fear or regret things they'd normally learn from or look forward to. It tells you that co-workers don't like you. It tells you that your art isn't good enough. It tells you to stay home and cancel plans with your friends. It tells you that you're a failure. And it's wrong.

To those that are making an honest living, that's a very tough thing to do. You're working to support yourself, and that takes a lot of energy. To those that are painting, writing, playing instruments, or running their own business, be proud. You're doing what most aren't brave enough or equipped enough to do, and you're using long hours to put a service back into the community. To those with a lacking social life, don't blame yourselves just because life has gotten in the way of other people. It's no reflection on you. 

Now I know that simply saying "be proud of yourselves" or "don't be so affected" isn't going to quell these feelings of doubt. That's not how anxiety works. Everyone combats their anxiety in different ways. So try staying busy with new hobbies. Try groups or dating sites, or journals. Get rest, get water, get doctors, and if you need medication, get that too. Do whatever it takes to be healthy and self-sustainable. Talk about your problems, and work with others to find whatever solutions best suit you. But know that the nagging voice inside you that's telling you that you're not good enough is wrong. 

You're enough, just by existing. You're unique and you bring a color and a flavor into other's lives that literally nobody else can. You're one of one. And you've survived a lot already in your time on earth. So if "all" you do today is survive another day, I'm proud of you, and so is everyone else in your life. That fight, that strength, that effort...that's the voice that matters.