Unrecognizable Masks : Anxiety Advocacy Campaign

   Have you ever felt that moment where you wake up whether it was in the middle of the night or early in the morning and you just stare at your ceiling for hours and think about your messed up life? Or have you ever made fake smiles and nervous laughter to someone? These things could be totally unrecognizable. No one seems to notice that these kind of things really happen to most people out there especially with teenagers. This has been one common problem with teens nowadays. Anxiety. Other people think that having anxiety is a joke and they say that it is being "overreacting". It is actually not, anxiety may be a serious problem because it may lead to deep depression and soon suicide.

   People wear masks everyday. Not to say that they have two faces or two sides but just because they just want to hide what they are truly feeling from the inside. People having anxiety could have a hard time. They try to get out of bed everyday, fake a smile and a laugh to everyone in their surroundings, getting nervous of your appearance or the way you speak and move around in public. AT the end of the day, you just feel empty. You feel nothing. Other times, you can fell everything all at once.

Everyone seems to be fine at the outside. In the inside, others may see what a disaster it is. No one seems to talk about these things. One day, you saw your friend smiling at you and waving goodbye from school. The next day, you heard the news that you friend has already committed suicide. It is easier to smile even when you are hurting really bad inside than explaining to the whole word why you are sad because you don't even know what the on earth you are feeling. It starts with anxiety, then overthinking, depression and you know what is next.

Once someone has opened up to you about their anxiety or depression, listen to them and try everything in your power to comfort them especially when that person starts to talk about suicide even though you may see it as a joke. Don't tell them that it will just go away like a bubble or that they are overreacting over the simple things. Never say that to them because it may trigger them to do something worse. The person has opened up to you, so you should feel good because that person trusts you with their feelings.

Anxiety must not be ignored. Please spread awareness that anxiety and depression is something that could affect your whole life. For people who are reading this and have experienced or have been experiencing anxiety, don't give up. There are a million reasons to live and to be happy don't let anxiety hinder you from being truly happy. You can overcome it, I did. Surround yourself with positive people and open up to them. Nothing is going to happen if you keep your feelings to yourself. It feels so much better to be truly happy about everything. There is a great world out there waiting for you.