Being Ok with Not Being Ok

I have lived with anxiety since 2009. I was 22 years old. My first panic attack occurred that year. About 45 minutes into a car drive I felt as if I was going to die. I could not breathe and had to pull the car off the road and walk for hours to try and catch my breath. That was my introduction to anxiety and I had no idea that I was about to embark on a back and forth journey for years to come.

I thought I was alone in my struggles and that no one else could possibly be dealing with what I was dealing with. Reaching out for help turned out to be the best decision I have ever made.

I began to see a counselor who explained to me that I was suffering from a combination of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. This is where ADAA came into my life. Simple information about the disorders I was dealing with gave me clarity and immediately helped with some of the extreme symptoms. ADAA and my Counselor also showed me tools like focusing on breathing, meditation, positive self-talk and other actionable steps that began to help immediately as well.

The real point of me sharing this story is not to bring focus to me or my story exclusively. It is to show how one simple step of reaching out for help changed my life tremendously and changed my life quickly. None of us are alone in this battle. My anxiety issues are still extremely relevant and I deal with the battle on a daily basis. But the battle now is one that I embrace. I am proud of the battle. We all have different characteristics and one of mine just happens to be an anxiety disorder....or two or three.

I graduated college. I earned a graduate certification in Sport and Fitness Psychology. I am the Vice President of a very successful company in Southern California. I have and deal with anxiety. Anxiety is not a negative that we need to resist and be ashamed of. Anxiety is just an attribute that some of us have and some of us don't. If you do, embrace all of it, reach out for help and educate yourself on tools and concepts to improve your quality of life and coping skills. 

This is my story. It is a simple one but I hope it helps anyone out there who is being timid about their anxiety. So many people are dealing with some form of anxiety issues and they are hiding it. Embrace it. Own it. Change your life.

Get China's new book "Tell Your Story"

Read articles featuring China:

• The Toll of Holding a Job While Coping With Mental Health Issues
• I Embrace My Anxiety, Because It's A Part of Me
• Mind Over Matter
• A New Prescription For Depression: Join A Team And Get Sweaty