10 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Parents About My Anxiety

Dear Mom and Dad,

I know it can be hard for you to understand my anxiety sometimes. I don’t always express it in the best of ways, but it’s because I can’t explain it to myself some days. This is a list of ten things about my anxiety I wish I could tell you.

1.  I’m not being f**cking overdramatic.

No, going out every so often probably won’t actually kill me, but it feels like it does, mom.

2. For real though, I can’t help my panic attacks.

I know it’s hard to explain to people why I start crying and hyperventilating when in a particular place, or when certain things are said, or when I make a D, but I can’t. Help. It.

3. There’s really nothing you can do to help.

It’s actually ingrained in my brain.

4. And no, it’s not your fault.

It’s nobody’s fault really. Again…just…ingrained…in my brain…

5. I’m actually trying, please understand that.

It’s harder for me to make friends, so please know that I’m doing the best I can.  I might not be the life of the party, but I’m okay with that.

6. Please don’t talk shit about my friends/partners.

I wouldn’t allow anybody who makes my anxiety worse in my life, so trust when I say that my friends and partners are good. What does make my anxiety worse is when you don’t approve, and have nothing but negative things to say.

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7. If I don’t talk to you for a while (or don’t take your calls), it’s not personal.

I probably just need time to recollect my thoughts. I promise I’ll call you back. I still care.

8.  I’m not unmotivated, I’m actually really ambitious.

I’m not nearly as much of a slacker as you might think, I’m just anxious af about everything I do and how it’ll affect anything in the future, so I sometimes elect to not take any course of action.

9. I appreciate your understanding or attempts at it.

10. Sheltering me from everything isn’t going to help.

Sometimes I need to feel anxious and get past it in order to be a successful adult.

Anxiety is challenging to live with and explain to others who do not have it, can you think of anything else you would like to say to your parents that you wish they could understand better? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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