Personal Narrative Of Anxiety

I had never been too fond of Mercy and during my four years there my anxiety levels rose to the point of having consistent panic attacks weekly. Ms. Yanson, my AP English teacher, was a big reason for my anxiety in school. She was the type of teacher who would say very demeaning things to you and make you feel like a total imbecile. I hated going to her class, my legs would shake, my stomach felt like it was twisting into the tightest knots, and my head would hurt from all of the stressing I would do over this English class. I remember the day Ms. Yanson asked me to meet with her after class. This was my worst nightmare, having a one on one conversation with the teacher you dread seeing the most. My mind was racing with all the possible things she would want to say to me and I contemplated leaving without talking to her. But to her desk I went, with a sinking feeling in my stomach, my heart racing and my hands sweaty. I sat down and Ms. Yanson began to talk to me. She began to ask me about why I never talk in class. I said I had unbearable anxiety and that it was hard for me to feel confident enough in my answers to be able to raise my hand. Then, she said something that would change me forever. “Your anxiety is going to hold you back in life.” I can still …show more content…
I thought her comment would make me dread school even more than I already did. But, the need to prove her wrong outweighed my anxiety. I have seen a change in me that I never thought I would see. I raise my hand in class now, without the fear of getting the answer wrong. I can get up and give presentations without having to leave school early before I have to present. I can talk to people I do not know and notworry about all the things I might have said wrong. These might seem like small accomplishments to most people, but to me, they empower me to keep going and to keep improving who I