Anxiety’s Hidden Truth

There are times when I’m not completely truthful—not in the sense of outright lying, but in the way I keep things hidden. If a friend asks me to do something and I already have plans, I’ll tell them. But sometimes, the plans I’ve made aren’t with anyone else—they’re with my own silence. More often than I’d like to admit, I’ll say no not because I’m busy but because my anxiety has gotten the better of me.

Anxiety is sneaky. It doesn’t knock loudly or announce itself; it creeps in quietly, building within me before I even realize it’s there. It’s in the small moments: chewing my fingernails, twisting my beard, talking myself out of going to the gym or stepping outside for a walk. By the time I notice, it feels like my body has betrayed me, amplifying the thoughts of dread with physical unease.

Some days, I wake up with a sense of impending doom—a weight in my chest that doesn’t match my circumstances. Nothing catastrophic is happening, but my body doesn’t care. It’s already decided to sound the alarm. And that’s one of the cruel tricks anxiety plays: it convinces me there’s something to fear even when there isn’t.

The hardest part is how isolating it can feel. When you turn down invitations or opt out of plans, it’s hard to explain to someone, “I didn’t cancel because I don’t want to see you; I canceled because I can’t even deal with myself right now.” It’s easier to hide behind an excuse or keep things unsaid, but that only adds to the weight I carry.

I’m learning, slowly, to catch it. To notice when the signs are there before they spiral out of control. It’s not easy—it never is—but acknowledging anxiety for what it is makes a difference. It doesn’t make it disappear, but it takes away some of its power.

If you’ve ever felt this way, I want you to know you’re not alone. Anxiety has a way of making us feel like we’re the only ones going through it, but that’s a lie. Sharing these thoughts, whether with a friend or in a space like this, reminds me—and hopefully you—that we don’t have to carry this alone.

The light may feel distant some days, but it’s always there. And as long as I’m still here, I’ll keep searching for it.

What are some ways you deal with anxiety? Let’s open this space to share, support, and remind each other that even in the darkest times, there’s always a spark waiting to ignite. See you out there.


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