I'm a 25-year-old female college student who's been struggling with anxiety and depression for a while now. I'm currently taking some time off from school to focus on my mental health and try to figure out what I want to do with my life. My parents are really supportive, but they're also pretty strict about me not going back to school until I've gotten things sorted out.

I grew up in a pretty small town where everyone knows each other's business. It was hard for me to keep my anxiety and depression hidden from the people around me because it felt like everyone was judging me all the time. Sometimes I'd get really overwhelmed by just thinking about how everyone would react if they found out.

I'm hoping that this break will give me a chance to relax, learn some new coping mechanisms, and maybe even find a way to deal with my anxiety once and for all. I don't want to be a burden on anyone else anymore - especially not my family who's already given me so much support throughout the years. Do you know what it's like to feel like you're carrying around this weight that just gets heavier and heavier each day? It feels like no matter how hard I try, I'm always gonna be stuck in this rut unless something changes.

I've been reading a lot about different anxiety coping techniques online - things like meditation, journaling, and even trying out some new hobbies to distract myself from my worries. But honestly, it's not really working that well