I wrote this column over a year ago, but I’ve been hearing about a lot of people dealing with mental illness lately, so I wanted to share my story again and speak out about it.

Ever since my senior year of high school, I would start to get anxious over small things. Things like deciding on where to go to college stressed me out and caused me to get myself overly worked up.

I realized I had a problem. My emotions were taking over my life. Day-to-day tasks became hard for me to accomplish because of how stressed out I was. I knew I needed to get help.

Getting help was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Last September, I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder. It’s a struggle that affects my life daily. If I get stressed out about anything, it throws me into a panic attack, sometimes so bad that I can’t function enough to even communicate with people.

Often, mental illnesses are given a stigma that they are fake, made up, or just used for attention. This isn’t true. I would do anything not to battle with anxiety on a daily basis. I wish more than anything that I could lead a normal life and not have to worry about having an anxiety or panic attack when something stressful or worrisome happens in my life. Seeing a professional for my illness has definitely helped, and I’m glad I did, but I also wish I didn’t have to deal with it in the first place.

Having a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. They affect so many people, in so many different ways. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from dealing with anxiety, it would be to not be afraid to get help. Even if it’s not professional help, talking with someone you trust can help immensely. Whether you’re depressed, anxious, or anything else in between, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. It’s better to get help rather than wait until it’s too late.

 

Erin Murtaugh is an undergraduate at Bemidji State University studying elementary education. She can be reached at murtaugh.erin@gmail.com.