Anxiety Is a Small Word, but a Big Feeling
Anxiety. A state of being anxious. A feeling of worry, nervousness or unease about a situation. It’s a small word that is defined so simply. Yet the feeling is anything but simple. The feeling is anything but small. Anxiety can be all encompassing.
Anxiety is a heavy weight on your heart, dragging you down into the currents.
Anxiety is all consuming. It takes over your life and leaves you constantly battling to survive.
Anxiety buries you in a pit of despair, leaving you continuously clawing for a way out.
Anxiety is constantly blaming yourself for the actions of others.
Anxiety is the feeling of guilt, even when you know you’re innocent.
Anxiety is filled with “what-ifs.”
Anxiety is the dread you feel when faced with change.
Anxiety is the inability to cope with challenging situations.
Anxiety is feeling like you’re not good enough. It’s feeling like you’re not worthy of love.
Anxiety is not wanting to die, rather, not knowing how to live.
Anxiety keeps you up at night — worrying, aching, dreaming.
Anxiety is sometimes misunderstood. People might believe you are always overreacting, even when there are times that your feelings are justified.
Anxiety is a term that is thrown around so flippantly. If only all people knew what having an anxiety disorder really felt like.
Anxiety is a constant battle to look fine on the outside, when on the inside you are drowning.
Anxiety. It’s a small word. It’s a simple word. But the actual state of anxiety can be enough to wear a person down and tear them apart.
That is why we need more awareness for mental health. Take a look at the person next to you, the person scanning your groceries, the teacher who always greets your child with a smile as you walk through the door, the nurse with endless patience who cheerfully comes every time you press that buzzer. We don’t know what hidden battles they may be facing. On the outside, they may appear happy and confident. But unless you take the time to really get to know them, we have no idea what’s happening on the inside.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.
If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.
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Thinkstock photo via Grandfailure
Alexis Nooyen lives in Australia and is a single mother to two children. As a special education teacher, she has spent her career advocating for the students she teaches and is also an advocate for her children, whom both have autism. She also has a child with a range of complex medical needs.
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