15 Things Only People with Anxiety Will Understand

PUBLISHED Oct 22nd, 2020 & UPDATED ON Feb 8th, 2023

If you have anxiety, you might have quirks or habits that you think are a bit unique or strange. Well, we’re here to tell you that you probably can relate to some of the things in this article. You can have a bit of comfort knowing that not the only one who does them!

1. Biting Your Cheek

Some of you might be reading this WHILE you’re biting your cheek. Lol. Surprise! Many people who constantly bite the inside of their cheek actually might be doing it because of their anxiety. Who knew?

2. Watching the Same Show Over and Over

Did you know that people who watch the same show over and over usually have anxiety? We do this because we find comfort in knowing how things are going to turn out. So, if your friends bug you about bingeing The Office for the 37th time, now you can tell them to “shove it up their butts” because watching it helps your anxiety!

3. Practicing Your Order Before the Waiter Comes Over

This. Is. So. Stressful. The absolute WORST is when you don’t know how to pronounce something. Or if you walk into a Starbucks hoping that there will be a line so that you can take your time to decide what you want to order, BUT THERE’S NOT and you have to order IMMEDIATELY! *Panic*

4. Group Projects

Do… do we even have to explain this one? Group projects are stressful enough as it is, but when you add anxiety into the mix, there are a million more worries that pop up when you’re working with other people. Are they going to pull their weight? Are they going to do things well? We should probably just do it ourselves… But then it wouldn’t be a group project and they might get mad at you… Or would they appreciate the help? Ugh! There are too many things to consider.

5. “Hey, can we talk later?”

Ummm… NO! We can talk right now so that I don’t spend the whole day thinking about every possible scenario that you might want to talk to me about. Yes, it might be a conversation about something good, but my anxiety definitelyyyy doesn’t see it that way. So, the answer is yes, but also no.

6. Unread Texts And Emails

Ignoring texts and emails could be considered a superpower for people who have anxiety. Most people wouldn’t have much of a reaction if they receive a text (or a few texts in a row). They would just answer them and reply without much thought. But for people with anxiety, we avoid those texts like the fucking plague!

7. Having to Call… Anyone

Phone calls? No way, man. If I never have to make another phone call again, I could live a VERY happy life.

8. When Someone Calls You

These are gonna have to be a no for us, dawg. We would say call again later, but we still probably won’t pick up.

9. “What medications are you on?”

When you talk to another person who has anxiety, one immediate way of bonding is asking what meds they’re on. The best feeling is when you’re on the same meds! You immediately become best friends!

10. Only Knowing One Person at a Party

This is our worst nightmare… Like, our literallll worst nightmare! We don’t just have anxiety around going to a party, it’s the fact that there will be people we don’t know that we will have to try and make small talk with. Noooo thank you!

11. Thinking That Everyone Hates You

It doesn’t matter how much you can be reassured that nobody hates you. People with anxiety will never believe you. Lies! It’s all lies! We know you’re right, but it’s LIES!

12. Being an Overachiever

We like to make sure that we are doing a good job at literally everything. This way we can prevent anything bad that might happen from NOT overachieving. Washing the dishes? There will never be a cleaner plate on the planet if we have anything to say about it! Therapy? We’re going to make sure that we graduate therapy with honours (if that was even a thing). Whatever it is, we’re probably making sure that we’re the best at it.

13. Jumping to Conclusions

Did someone phrase something slightly weird? Maybe they looked at you with a different expression on their face. Well, if there’s a conclusion, we’re going to jump to it!

14. Being Too Comfortable with Your Therapist

The more you see your therapist, the more comfortable you become with them. At first, you start out being honest, but not really being your full self. A few months later, you’re showing up to your therapist’s office in sweatpants and eating a bag of Cheetos as you slump into the chair and greet your them with a “Heyyyy! So, let’s get right into it. You wanna know how my week has been? Buckle up.”

15. Getting Over One Worry, Then Finding New Things to Worry About

It’s a never-ending cycle of quelling one worry and then discovering another. It’s like a game of whack-a-mole with anxieties. One after the other, after the other, after the other… If you have anxiety, you totally know this feeling because it never ends.

Having anxiety is like being part of your own fun (and sometimes not so fun) little mental health club! Millennials and Gen Z-ers are super open about their anxiety compared to past generations, so it’s easy (and kind of fun) to find people like us.

But we know that anxiety can be really fucking hard to deal with sometimes, so don’t forget to take care of yourself! Ya, you might need to have a good cry about some shit, but taking care of yourself is so important. Maybe you and your friends from your new-found anxiety club can have a little self care party or even cry together! Do what you gotta do. We won’t judge!