Perfectionism
I used to think I was just a perfectionist; each situation had to be planned out to the last detail, homework and projects had to be done flawlessly, and conversations had to flow exactly the way I imagined they would in my head. I fooled myself into thinking I was simply trying to take control of my life, but in all actuality, my anxiety was controlling me.
In the past, I constantly worried about every little thing. In fact, I was more anxious than I had ever been after realizing just how bad my anxiety was. While my mindset is much better now, I still have my bad days, just like everyone else.
Doubt, fear
Anxiety is a dark cloud that looms over all of us. When someone glances at us for a second too long, we automatically resort to worrying about our appearance. We constantly panic about our future, relationships and education. The main thing to realize is that although we all may suffer with anxiety from time to time, our worries don’t define us. At all.
Based on a study from National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement, data discovered that young women are more likely to suffer from anxiety than young men; while only 26 percent of males had displayed an anxiety disorder, 38 percent of women were affected.
Under these unfortunate circumstances, it’s crucial to remember that everyone feels this way at some point in their lives. Since anxiety is so common, it’s easy to find someone to relate to and communicate with.
From personal experience, I’ve found the quickest remedy to anxiety is releasing those negative emotions. Whether you’re more into individual expression, such as journaling or artistic outlets, or collective communication, such as confiding in a close friend, speaking your worries into existence can help to rationalize and comfort. Many people might even have advice or comforting words from dealing with their own anxiety experiences.
Resources
If you’re interested in learning more about anxiety, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America has an informative and reassuring website: www.adaa.org. Many women have decided to share their anxiety journey, channeling their emotions into a blog post, such as Adolescent Girls and Anxiety, Back to School Anxiety and Social Anxiety: Imperfect is the New Perfect.
Remember that you’re not alone in your anxiety; everyone suffers from these negative emotions, and more women are exposed to anxiety disorders. You are not defined by your anxiety.
