Anxiety

I have been anxious for as long as I can remember. I grew from an awkward and anxious child to an awkward and anxious adult. As a teenager I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but it was only as an adult that I learned more about what it actually means to be anxious. Having anxiety doesn’t just mean being nervous or worrying. When …

Sick days. They’re something we all get a certain amount of, and something we all take a certain amount of — some more than others. Growing up, I had the blessing of being raised by two teachers — two teachers who got it. While they might not have known at the time that I was struggling with anxiety and depression (neither did I back then), …

About a year ago, I started experiencing horrible chronic fatigue. I tried to examine every possible cause. Was I getting enough sleep? Giving myself enough downtime during the day? Taking breaks between work and school projects? Did I need more coffee? Was I eating a healthy enough diet? Did I need more exercise? I went down the checklist of possibilities …

I was recently told by my therapist that I struggle with a fear of abandonment. While this was nothing new to me, it opened my eyes up to the different ways this fear can manifest in my behavior throughout my relationships. It can be hard to explain to partners and friends how exactly it can affect us. Being the one …

I wasn’t sure I wanted to write this. I’m not sure anyone wants to think about what makes them unlikable, and I doubt anyone wants to think about the times they have been party at fault in the break up of a friendship. I know I’ve spent a fair bit of time convincing myself of the opposite, that as the …

I don’t know how to casually like something. Whether it’s a book, TV show, musical artist or a creative activity, I will hyperfixate for a while and then usually drop it after a week or so. Sometimes, I’ll refocus my attention on it in a few months, or it will take a few years. Recently, I binge-watched about three seasons of BBC’s …

When the 15 million American adults who live with social anxiety disorder face social situations, they’re overcoming more than shyness. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, social anxiety is an extreme fear of being scrutinized and judged by others — a fear that can interfere significantly with a person’s life. Just because someone has social anxiety doesn’t mean they have nothing to say. We …