The thing with anxiety and stress is that it is extremely hard to measure its effect on each individual person. Which is why I find it so frustrating when I try to explain to someone that I suffer from anxiety. Most think something along the lines of, "Well duh, so do I. Everyone gets stressed at some point". This is absolutely true! The only problem is that stress does different things to different people. Not everyone copes or handles stress the same way.
I'm not trying to throw a pity party and complain about how no one "understands" and no one feels bad for me blah blah blah. But when my struggle with anxiety is belittled as something I should just "get over", I realize just how many people don't understand these mental disorders.
Mental disorder in itself is a terrifying phrase. But to dumb it down and make me feel less like I'm actually sick (which I am most definitely not!), it basically means that my stress and anxiety can, and sometimes does, interfere with my daily activities and sense of well-being.
For the longest time, I did feel like I was sick. I felt that I was failing because I couldn't just "get over" my anxiety and deal with it the way others were. I was ashamed of this weakness that I had.
But I have grown from there. I have realized that it is something that can be managed. It is something that will only consume and control me if I allow it to. My anxiety is not who I am but it is a part of who I was made. And I don't believe that God makes mistakes. God has used my anxiety to bring me closer to Him. This world and this life does not give much peace of heart or security. But God's peace and His promise of loving me unconditionally is more than enough to bring me out of my panic and worry.
As long as I am alive on this earth I will be dealing with my stress. It is hard and at some times it does consume and control me. But I serve a Great God and I have a wonderfully supportive husband who do not leave me to my panic.
There really isn't much awareness of the severity of anxiety and the damage that can be done when someone struggling with it is waved off as just complaining or being a baby about something.
Please don't overlook the real struggle a person with anxiety is having. Yes, everyone feels stressed out from time to time. But those struggling with anxiety are fighting daily against its grip.
P.S. Husband, thank you for loving me through my highs and my lows. Thank you for being a solid rock for me to lean on to.
