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To the Love of My Life Who Doesn't Always Understand My Anxiety

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Love of my life,

I envy your ability to socialize. I am jealous of how you can walk into a crowded room and immediately make a friend. I’m jealous of how you are able to walk up to a random person and start a conversation. Or how you can walk up and confidently shake a stranger’s hand. I am amazed by the countless amount of friends you have and how you know someone everywhere we go. You are like a social magnet, someone who everyone likes on their first meeting.

I wish I had your ability to work nine hours a day and still want to go out at the end of it and get a drink or two. Or your ability not to need any time to relax or reflect on your day. I am jealous of how you can run on so little sleep and still function throughout your day. I wish I could act like a “normal” young adult like you do, but I can’t.

I wish you understood the pit in my stomach every time I go out with you. I wish you would understand why I am quiet when we are around your friends. It’s not because I don’t like them, it’s just my fear of being judged for saying something wrong. I wish you understood why I broke down when you told me I might have to walk into a wedding by myself. I wish you understood why the smallest thing can spike a panic attack or why one minute I’m smiling and the next I’m fidgeting and biting my nails.

I wish you wouldn’t ask me why I woke up anxious, because I don’t know the answer to this question. I wish you understood there is no reason why I woke up with my heart racing and the empty nauseous feeling in my stomach. I wish you realized the smallest comment can cause a panic attack after a hard week of holding my anxiety in. I wish I enjoyed going out, making new friends and staying out late, but I don’t. I wish you wouldn’t tell me to “just close your eyes” when I can’t fall asleep. I wish you understood that one-on-one conversations with strangers horrify me. I wish you could understand these things but I know you try your best.

I don’t know why I sit at my own family events nervous about where I am. I wish I knew why I can’t eat much at a restaurant or eat in front of your family. Or how the simplest days can make me exhausted. I wish I didn’t think every person we meet is secretly judging me, when I know they actually aren’t. I wish I knew why I can’t eat before we go anywhere. I wish I could give you the answers to these questions.

It’s hard for me to keep up with the few friends I have and I know you secretly think I need more friends. But I am happier this way with the few friends I call my second family. I know it seems like I’m overreacting over my nervousness of presenting a project when it haunts me for days. I know you get annoyed when I tell you I passed with flying colors when you say, “You worry too much.” I know it seems crazy when I worry about a new job for a week straight, but it is just the way I am. I know it is hard for you to understand.

I know you tell me every day there isn’t anything wrong with me. You tell me I’m not crazy, but there are days I don’t believe that.

I hope you don’t find me clingy. I hope it isn’t too much when I miss you the second I leave your side. I hope you don’t find it annoying when I can’t go places without you. I hope it doesn’t seem crazy when I cry after being apart for only one day. But I have never had someone like you before, someone who can make me feel so safe.

I know life won’t be easy together. I know my life will always involve overthinking and stressing over the little things. I know when I graduate college and start working full-time, it won’t be an easy process. I realize many achievements in our lives will be scary for me, but I am thankful I will have you by my side.

I am sorry for the nights I do not speak. I know you think I am mad at you when I’m not talking to you. But I promise I am not mad at you. It is my way of processing my day. I am sorry for the times I randomly start crying while watching television. I tell you I’m overthinking but you always blame yourself. It is never your fault, just my anxiety.

I hope I do not cause you worry. I know how much you care about me, but I don’t always want to be a concern on your mind. I hope you never find me to be a burden, I know I can be a lot to handle. You tell me to stop worrying about your problems, but this is not possible. Your problems are my problems.

Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on. Thank you for holding me through my panic attacks. I know it scares you when I’m lying helpless, unable to breathe. Thank you for missing out on things for me because I know it bothers you. Thank you for trying your best to understand me. Thank you for trying to help me, instead of trying to change me. Thank you for pushing me forward because you know my full potential. Thank you for realizing how hard I work. Thank you for being the one person I’m truly comfortable with. I know I can always act like myself around you. Thank you for always believing in me. Thank you for being my best friend and most importantly thank you for loving me for who I am.

Sincerely,

The love of your life with anxiety

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Originally published: January 11, 2017
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