Living with Social Anxiety

When I was younger mental health problems such as depression and anxiety weren't discussed publicly. At least not where I come from. I'd always known there's something about me that isn't quite right or 'normal', so to speak, but I'd never really had the word for it up until I stumbled upon a couple of YouTube videos back in... 2010? It was then, at the age of 18, when I heaved a huge sigh of relief, knowing I'm not the only 'freak' out there. I will be eternally grateful to people who decided to speak up about their own problems and share their stories online, as they definitely played a huge part in me working on accepting myself, and that's why today, I'm opening up myself to spread the awareness and maybe even be the person who unlocks someone else's prison. You never know. Living with general and social anxiety is not easy, especially when people around you try to dismiss your problems, or even worse, ridicule you. Having said that, I'm a firm believer that you can overcome anything and do whatever your heart desires, even if your mind sometimes decides to work against you. My story is not a success story. Yet. But I'm working on it, and one day, I hope it will be.