30 Women Get Real About What It's Like to Live With Anxiety—And How They Cope

Health

28."For me, anxiety feels really disconnected and weird. I know I am afraid of something but I don't know what. It is like my brain is telling me, 'There's a bear! Run!' and at the same time my eyes are also telling me there is no bear. The fear is consuming and yet there is always a part of me that recognizes it's not real. What helps me most is medication, but also breathing exercises like meditation and yoga calm me down. Another thing that helps is being with a friend."—Monica H., 33, Phoenix, AZ

29."I have clinical depression and anxiety together. I've always been a nervous person, but after my divorce, it got a lot worse. I was left with three kids, no money, and no way to take care of them. This sent me into a spiral of depression. I'm doing a little better now but I have to put a lot of effort into my self-care now. I notice if I don't get enough sleep the anxiety and depression get so much louder. I have take two types of medication just to function."—Amberly J., 31, Miami, FL

30."My anxiety can masquerade as almost any medical or physical condition. So I've had to learn that just because I feel sick and anxious doesn't mean X (insert scary physical thing here). Telling my husband and being very honest with him has also been helpful. Anxiety often feels like something that should be kept secret. Maybe it's that it is embarrassing, or shakes my image of the competent, super-together professional. But because anxiety kicks in a fight-or-flight mode, talking about it instead of leaving (literally or figuratively) does seem to help. It's not a long discussion—just an admission of what's going on in the moment. Don't fight it. Don't flee. Just admit it and breathe deeply. And if all else fails, medicate and silently beg it to kick in quickly!"—Emily P., 27, Boston, MA