BY L IBBY WHITE PHOTOS BY MATT CORNEL IUS HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT M y six-year-old loves to play hide and seek. I was never a fan of the game as a child because I despised the heart-racing feeling of wondering if they would find me in my dark hiding place. Maybe it was because I have never liked feeling anxious or out of control. I preferred being the seeker in the light rather than the one silently waiting alone in the dark. As an adult, however, when life is no longer a game and after having lived through heartaches and life experiences that have brought me to my knees, I now recognize my default mode is hiding. Honestly, it seems much easier to hide behind a smile or appear to have it all together in my family’s “perfect” Facebook picture rather than allow people to see the real, raw emotions and moments of life. It has taken my small circle of strong and dependable friends and family, who pursue me and care enough to ask the deeper questions, to help me peel back the layers. If we are not honest with ourselves and our close circle of support, anxiety can be a silent struggle that can lead to isolation, depression and other mental health issues. According to Billy Eldridge of Olive Tree Counseling, approximately 35% of his clients seek counseling because of anxiety. “Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of all psychiatric disorders,” Eldridge stated. Simply talking about anxiety might make you want to turn the page and skip it. Don’t worry; it stepped on my toes at first. But, through the following stories of three brave individuals who have faced anxiety head on, you will be empowered and encouraged as you discover how they have dealt with their anxiety and how they are actively overcoming it today.
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