Photo: Daniel Monteiro on Unsplash
This is what anxiety feels like.
By Eugene Aldridge — Written on Feb 02, 2018
Do you have anxiety — or do you think you have it? Whether it is general anxiety disorder, social anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder, dealing with stresses like these can be complicated.
Most people don’t understand the complexities of having an anxiety disorder and the effect it can have on your body, mind and spirit. No one chooses to feel the ways they do, but the accumulating dread someone feels in the back of their head can stop them from fully enjoying life.
Life can be hard on someone living with perpetual stress or an anxiety disorder, and when it comes to doing small tasks — especially if it has to do with going out in public or determining your future — that small thing can seem really big.
Negative thoughts can come without warning, and not having anyone who's able to understand your dilemma only increases pain you're already experiencing.
If you’re reading this and you don’t have anxiety, looking to these quotes should help you understand more about what your friends and loved ones go through. There are plenty of people in the world who deal with all types of anxiety — even ones who didn't grow up with it, like veterans with PTSD. So it's important to empathize and try to understand what anxiety really feels like so that you're able to help the people closest to you.
There are many forms of anxiety, so being able to keep an open mind to what your friends might be going through every day is essential to being able to help.
If you want to help, or if you want to feel like you’re not alone, look to these quotes, memes and illustrations about what it's really like to deal with anxiety.
1. When you feel bad about not texting your friends.
Credit: Nanea Hoffman, SweatpantsAndCoffee.com
The truth is, some forms of communication are easier for me than others. Especially text or email, because I have time to think calmly and engage when I'm ready. If I call you on the phone, it's probably your birthday. Or, I'm trapped in something.
2. Life is hard when all you do is doubt yourself.
Living with anxiety is like being followed by a voice. It knows all your insecurities and uses them against you. It gets to the point when it's the loudest voice in the room. The only one you can hear.
3. Anxiety runs deeper than most people think.
A pie chart of real anxiety
4. You can't always see what anxiety looks like.
Credit: Sara Pocock, Buzzfeed.com
What anxiety looks like on the outside. What anxiety feels like on the inside
5. It's worse not knowing if you made a mistake.
Credit: Healthyplace.com
Anxiety is not being able to sleep because you said something wrong two years ago and can't stop thinking about it.
6. Dealing with a mental illness like anxiety is a struggle.
Credit: Mimi Love
I'm not lazy. I'm just exhausted from fighting my way through every single
7. It's hard to see when you should feel accomplished.
Credit: TheLatestKate, Patreon.com/thelatestkate
You've been doing a great job considering all you've been up against
8. People say "Just calm down," but it's not easy.
Credit: HealthyPlace.com
This is one of the most frustrating things about having an anxiety disorder; knowing as you're freaking out that there's no reason to be freaked out, but lacking the ability to shut the emotion down.
9. It's easy to blow little things out of proportion.
Sometimes the thoughts in my head...Can get too overwhelming
10. That voice in the back of your head can be problematic.
Credit: Beth Evans, Butthorn.tumblr.com
Hey where are we going what are we doing let's get upset over nothing and push people away and be weird about stuff!!!!!
11. Anxiety can stay hidden.
All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul and they will never notice how broken you really are
12. Relationships can struggle when there's stress involved.
Credit: HealthyPlace.com
I need you to love me a little louder today
13. Things will get better, but sometimes it's hard to see.
Credit: EDFreeLife.tumblr.com
Hold on, pain ends
14. It's hard not to fret over the little things.
Worrying doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace.
15. Being strong is tough.
Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once. Breathe. You're strong. You got this. Take it day by day.
16. It can be hard to be proud of your accomplishments when you have anxiety.
Be gentle with yourself, you're doing the best you can.
17. A lot of people with anxiety don't want to be seen as attention-seeking.
Social Anxiety Thing #366: Never talking about your feelings because the fear of anyone thinking of you as "dramatic" or an "attention seeker" haunts you
RELATED: 7 REAL Struggles Of Being An Extrovert With Anxiety
18. Anxiety humor — funny, but true.
I'm a social vegan--I avoid meet
19. The negative thoughts can creep in fast.
Hey...Hey...Hey...What if none of your friends actually like you and they just tolerate you?
20. Sometimes a little anxiety humor helps.
I don't have a nervous system. I am a nervous system.
