My Anxiety From My Son's Perspective

My whole life, I've watched my dad struggle with severe anxiety. Even the slightest bad moment would leave him unable to breathe or function. Around 2020, I noticed people started talking a lot more about their anxiety and how bad it gets. But I have never, in my entire life, met someone whose anxiety quite literally held them in a prison the way my dad’s did. He couldn’t leave the house, be around other people, or even face tough decisions without needing an ambulance or worse. He never left the building we built for him out back and weighed 386 pounds.

Recently, he decided enough was enough. He fought through his anxiety and worked harder than I ever thought possible. Now, he can leave the house, spend time with us, and live a real life.

If you're one of the people who let your anxiety control you, it’s time to stop. Stand tall and understand that you have control over it—it doesn’t control you. My dad is living, breathing proof of this. Remember, whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. - Bret Holloway