Social Anxiety

You don't know how it feels.

To push yourself, push yourself so hard to do things that everyone else does without a second thought.

Shake hands with a stranger.

Make eye contact.

Talk in front of people.

Eat in front of people.

Working in groups.

Teachers don't understand. They just dot get it.

When I'm standing in front of the class to give a presentation.

They see it as being nervous.

Oh no.

Oh hell no.

They don't know that my hands are shaking.

They don't know that I have chills going down my spine.

They don't know that I feel like I can't breathe.

They don't know that I can't concentrate.

They don't get it when I stutter or stall or get stuck on my words.

They just don't get it.

Welcome to an easy day in the life of someone who struggled with Social Anxiety Disorder.

It's not a phase.

It's not an act.

It's a mental disorder.

Something that affects almost every minute of my life.

So don't tell me that you understand, when you really don't.

12/1/13