A Speech for the One's in Pain by Jasmyn

A Speech for the One's in Pain by Jasmyn - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

No. Please, not again. I repeated this mantra over and over again in my head. I was having another panic attack and they were becoming harder and harder to handle. I was forced to wait it out unaware of any other way to handle my panic-stricken mind that forced my body out of my control. Half an hour later, out of breath and wiping my soggy face, and finally feeling a little in control of myself I was hit with a wave of frustration and absolute disdain for what I had become.
Many people are unaware of the severity of mental disorders and how they can impact a person's life. In high school, it is especially important for students to understand that if they have a mental disorder that they are not alone and how to cope. In my case I was aware that there was something wrong with me, but I was afraid that if I told someone I’d either be made fun of for being ludicrous or sent to an insane asylum where there would be painful never-ending tests. Having anxiety in our current society is especially difficult to deal with; the advanced technology and nonstop updates through social media and instant messaging doubles the speed of an already anxious brain making life more unbearable and extremely overwhelming. With the aid of my parents, a super supportive friend group, and very understanding teachers, I’ve been able to cope with my anxiety.
I hope my experience could help people understand and acknowledge that they’re not alone, and that a school-wide audience would feel compelled after my story was told to look further than themselves and recognize that even though mental disorders are hard to see they are very real and cause great pain.