These days, it’s almost more rare not to have experienced anxiety than to have gone through it. Unfortunately, anxiety has been on the rise in the 21st century, and medications like antidepressants—or as some call them, “happy pills”—are being prescribed more than ever. It’s ironic, isn’t it? Despite all our progress (longer life expectancy, gym memberships, diet experts, and an army of pilates girlies), more and more young people struggle with that nagging feeling in their chest or the pit in their stomach every single day. With the rise of social media and the pressure of constant comparison, anxiety has become especially common among teenagers and young adults. This is one of the reasons I quit social media, and to this day, I don’t regret it for a hot minute.

Before the golden Instagram days (hard to remember, huh?), I remember reading quotes like “Don’t let fear hold you back!” and thinking, What fear? Back then, I felt so carefree, like the world was my playground. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to that version of myself—the one who didn’t care what people thought, who fully believed in her dreams, who saw no limits to what was possible.

Now, at 24, I’ve spent a year in therapy being treated for an anxiety disorder. At one point, my anxiety got so bad that I could barely leave my house. I became so self-conscious that if a stranger looked at me, I immediately assumed something was off—maybe they could see my fear. My world kept shrinking until I hardly recognized myself. It felt impossible to believe that the same girl who once flew across the world alone to New Zealand at 17 was now struggling just to walk to the end of the street.

Anxiety is powerful—it can completely alter the way you see yourself and the world around you. That’s why it’s so important to talk about it openly instead of brushing it off. When I was at my lowest, I often felt alone because no one around me truly understood what I was going through. I’d hear things like “Just change your mindset” or “Just go outside”—which, to someone with severe anxiety, is like telling someone with a crippling fear of heights to “just climb the tallest mountain.” Comments like that don’t help; in fact, they often make things worse by adding guilt on top of the anxiety itself.

But here’s something I’ve learned: You are not your anxiety. You feel anxious, but that feeling will pass. It doesn’t define who you are. Small daily habits, like a mindful morning routine, can make a difference. So can being intentional about what you consume—whether it’s food, social media, or even the news.

And if your anxiety is holding you back from living your life, please consider reaching out to a therapist. For me, therapy has been life-changing. It gave me a safe space to talk about my anxiety, understand where it was coming from, and learn how to navigate it. But if therapy isn’t an option for you—or if you just want to share your experiences—feel free to do so here. This is a safe space, too.