"What Anxiety Feels Like: My Story"

Anxiety is something many people talk about today, but still, not everyone truly understands what it feels like. For me, anxiety is not just feeling “nervous” or “worried.” It’s something much deeper—something that affects how I think, feel, and live every single day.

I never used to understand it myself. I thought I was just overthinking or being “too sensitive.” People around me often said things like, “Just relax,” or “You worry too much.” But anxiety is not something I can switch off. It’s like a heavy fog that lives inside my mind, blocking my peace and controlling my thoughts.

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When It All Started

My anxiety started when I was a teenager. At first, it was small—like feeling nervous in social situations or overthinking after a simple conversation. But slowly, it began to grow. I started feeling tightness in my chest, a racing heart, and a constant fear that something bad was going to happen.

Sometimes I couldn’t sleep at night because my mind wouldn’t stop spinning with thoughts. “Did I say something wrong?” “What if I fail?” “What if people don’t like me?” These questions would keep repeating again and again until I felt like I was drowning in my own thoughts.

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What Anxiety Feels Like

Anxiety feels different for everyone, but here’s how it feels for me:

It’s waking up with a pit in your stomach even when nothing is wrong.

It’s feeling tired but unable to rest because your mind keeps running.

It’s avoiding phone calls, social events, or even talking to people because you’re scared of saying something wrong.

It’s questioning yourself over and over: "Did I do enough?" "Am I good enough?"

Sometimes I feel like I’m standing in a room full of people, but I’m still alone in my mind. I smile on the outside, but inside, I’m just trying to breathe through the storm.

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The Worst Days

There have been days when I just didn’t want to get out of bed. Not because I was lazy, but because the thought of facing the day felt too heavy. My heart would race for no reason, and my hands would shake. I remember one day at university, I was in the middle of class and suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe. I had to leave the room, pretending I was fine.

It’s moments like that which make anxiety so painful. It shows up without warning, without reason, and without care. And when you try to explain it to others, they often don’t understand because “you look fine.”

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Learning to Cope

I’m still learning how to live with anxiety. Some days are better, and some are worse. But I’ve found a few things that help:

Talking about it: Opening up to a friend or writing in a journal helps me feel lighter. Keeping everything inside only makes it worse.

Deep breathing and mindfulness: Sometimes just closing my eyes and taking slow, deep breaths helps calm my racing thoughts.

Limiting social media: Social media can increase anxious feelings, especially when I compare my life to others. Taking breaks helps a lot.

Self-compassion: I remind myself that it’s okay to not be okay. I try to treat myself kindly, like I would treat a friend going through the same thing.

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You’re Not Alone

If you’re reading this and feel something similar, please know: you are not alone. I know it can feel like no one understands, but I promise there are people out there who do. Sharing my story isn’t easy, but I hope it helps someone feel seen, even just a little.

Anxiety is not weakness. It’s not attention-seeking. It’s real, and it deserves to be talked about without shame.

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Final Thoughts

Living with anxiety is hard, but it doesn’t define me. I’ve learned to accept that some days will be difficult. But I’ve also learned that there’s strength in being honest, in asking for help, and in sharing our struggles.

If you’re going through anxiety, don’t be afraid to speak up. Whether it’s to a friend, a family member, or even a stranger—your story matters. And maybe, just maybe, by sharing it, you’ll help someone else find hope too.

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