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Narrative Essay On Social Anxiety

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As I was growing up, I would have never expected my life would come to this. It began gradually and continued until it engulfed me. My whole life revolved around it, and would change the person I am for the rest of my life. The constant fear and paranoia, are unimaginable, and no description, or imaginary details can truly capture the extent of its effects. It is my bully, yet I cannot tell someone, get help, and stop it. This bully is not in my class, but instead in my head. His name is anxiety. The DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) defines social anxiety as, “A persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by …show more content…

I could feel my body temperature rising, my hands perspiring, my breathing become more rapid, and my eyes starting to feel heavy. My mind raced evaluating every sound, laugh, and conversation. I tried to act normal do what the voice made me think I should do, but there I was 11 years old sitting alone crying, trying to make it all stop. This is my life everyday, there is no stop or pause button. Anxiety is a battle with myself to try and find the sanity in this parallel world I now live in. Everything from going to lunch, going out with friends, walking in the hall, and talking to adults are all daily tasks that provoke this voice. However the worst part is when no one believes you. I knew something was wrong, yet I was put down and told I was just anxious. I didn’t even know what I was feeling, and now I was alone. The people I loved the most brushed it past like it was nothing, leaving me confused and afraid. Even though my anxiety has completely altered my life, it has taught me a great deal. At first I would envy others, they would never understand the struggle I face everyday. I was angry and felt that others took advantage of their normal life, and I was broken. Many nights I stayed awake cry asking God why he wanted to punish me. However, as the years past I started to truly understand the beauty of my “curse”. I have a view of the world that most people don't have, and it makes me stronger. Most people never face a real struggle in their life

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