Sitting down to write my story brought on a crazy mix of emotions. I was nervous, anxious; I didn’t know what would come out.
But, why the fear and anxiety? Why is everyone so afraid of what others think of them? Why is judgment and perception the driving force behind everything we do? Why is living with mental illness something we THINK we should be ashamed of? The fact is, a very real stigma exists, and fair or not, there are consequences for sharing that you are dealing with a mental health issue.
I received a full basketball scholarship to a Division 1 college. I graduated from a highly regarded business school with a full-time job. Now at 25, I’m one of the youngest in my company in sales management earning an elite salary. I am accomplished and hard-working, and still growing. However, there is much more, as there often is, that makes me who I am.
I’ve been diagnosed with generalized anxiety and depression. My anxiety is a driving force behind my accomplishments. My fear of failure pushes me to excel, and my fear of mediocracy and self-acceptance makes me constantly… [Read Full Feature Here]
*Article originally published on www.adaa.org by Stephanie Cardamone