"Sitting across from someone who asks "How are you?" and automatically responding "I'm fine" when inside, everything feels like it's falling apart. For years, I perfected this dance of pretending, especially during my twenties when anxiety became my constant companion. I'd smile through meetings, laugh at parties, and tell everyone I was doing great while my chest felt tight and my thoughts raced endlessly."
"This phrase became my mantra during the worst of my burnout. Every Sunday night, I'd tell myself if I could just survive until Friday, everything would magically improve. But Friday would come, and I'd spend the weekend dreading Monday, only to repeat the cycle. When someone constantly talks about "getting through" time rather than living it, they're often in survival mode. They're not thriving or enjoying life; they're enduring it."
A person hid anxiety throughout their twenties, masking panic, racing thoughts, and chest tightness behind smiles and social appearances. A panic attack at twenty-seven revealed the unsustainable nature of constant pretending and survival-mode thinking. Repeated phrases such as "I just need to get through this week" and "I'm just tired" often function as disguised cries for help and indicate chronic emotional, mental, and spiritual depletion. Relying on short-term endurance fosters an endless cycle of dread and burnout rather than engagement and fulfillment. Recognizing these signals can prompt meaningful attention and support for those struggling.
Read at Silicon Canals
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