I’ve had anxiety for as long as I can remember but I was clinically diagnosed about ten years ago. It’s kind of a funny story. I was in middle school and I remember exactly what I was wearing: a purple school shirt, black jeans, a black gem-studded belt, and black flats. I used to think it was a real fashion statement to tuck my t-shirts into my jeans.

The doctor listened to my heart and I had to untuck my shirt. Literally the entire remainder of the time I kept making remarks about how I needed to retuck my shirt. And after the doctor and I spoke he looked between my parents and me and told us that I had anxiety and OCD. Then he made some comment about how my constant comments about retucking my shirt made sense to him now.

Before then I thought of being medicated for a behavioral/mental reason was some nefarious thing that only crazy people did. But now I know better. I have lived a better life thanks to my medication. And I understand the value of taking care of your mental health just as much as your physical health.