I’ve always been seen as the strong person. A driver, a leader, exuberant, etc. But really, I’m an introvert. I had my first panic attack when I was in college. It hasn’t happened again but now that I’m in my 30s, I have depression and have just recently been diagnosed w an anxiety disorder and have been prescribed meds. I never thought of myself as one of “those people” who need medication to function. But I am on my first week of medication and I have felt a sense of relief I haven’t had in a long time. I still have a bit of shame about my anxiety disorder, especially about disclosing it to my bosses at work and even friends. There is still a lot of stigma and they tend to tiptoe around you in case you have a breakdown. I want them to know that I am still capable. I’m still struggling whether or not to disclose my condition to be honest. I want mental health issues to be normalized but I think we still have a long way to go and I’m not sure I want to help pave the way at my expense.