According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, anxiety is defined as:

These are two definitions describing the same thing. One is a basic definition of anxiety, the other is a version of anxiety possibly faced by someone with an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety isn't the same for every person, as is any mental health condition. Anxiety can cause panic attacks for some and loss of appetite for others. For Jake from North Carolina, at the age of 17 he’d refuse to go to school and he'd curl up on the floor in fetal position, screaming because he couldn't shake the feeling. Jake, as most mentally ill people do, didn't understand his feelings and neither did his parents. He became suicidal and attempted to drown himself in the bathtub. Jake was your …show more content…
I can best describe it as that one chair in your room that you throw all your clothes on instead of putting them away. You let your feelings of nervousness, exhaustion, anticipation, and worry pile up onto the chair until one last item is added causing the pile to come crashing down. You try to keep it together, but hiding your feelings only makes them worse. Instead of putting them in the right place and staying organized you feel like your world has come crashing down. Your world stops yet everyone keeps moving as if nothing is wrong. The world doesn't stop for you to try and play catch up. It continues even when you are lying on the bathroom floor thinking you can't do it anymore, thinking you aren't worthy of anything, thinking you aren't going to make …show more content…
Teenagers often resort towards trying to kill them self. That seems like the only option when your parents think you are overreacting and you don't know how put into words the thoughts going around in your head. They think you are fine because they can't see what you are feeling. It's not a physical illness, therefore it doesn't show as many noticeable symptoms. This doesn't mean the feelings aren't there, they are loud and unclear, yet you may try to look completely calm and collected.

When you are feeling this way talk to someone. A teacher you trust, a parent, a friend, anyone. Now talking to them doesn't necessarily mean you have to tell them everything you're feeling because it can be uncomfortable and difficult. Sometimes just talking helps. You should never feel alone or be alone in those situations, never face your feelings alone. And if you notice someone who seems distressed try talking to them. You don't want to force them to talk about what's wrong, but let them know you are there for them and you're willing to