You are not weak. People like us, we’re brave. We’re the ones who get up and face our worst fears every day. We keep fighting.

I didn’t see how much of my self-worth had been tied into that relationship until it was over. The hardest part wasn’t leaving her behind; it was feeling like I’d left pieces of myself behind. The only pieces I liked.

I know I’ll never be able control what other people think. It’s not my job to convince others of who I am. My only job is to be who I am. All I can do is find what makes me happy, and live it.

Anxiety isn’t an attack that explodes out of me; it’s not a volcano that lies dormant until it’s triggered by an earth-shattering event. It’s a constant companion. Like a blow fly that gets into the house in the middle of summer, flying around and around. You can hear it buzzing, but you can’t see it, can’t capture it, can’t let it out.

That nervousness that makes your palms sweat and your heart race before you get up and make a speech in front of an audience? That’s what I feel in a normal conversation at the dinner table. Or just thinking about having a conversation at the dinner table.

You can’t pick and choose whose equality you support. That’s not equality.

Social hangovers. It’s like a normal hangover, but instead of being caused by too much alcohol, it’s caused by too much social exposure and overstimulation of the senses.

Just because I made it here doesn’t mean it was easy. And just because I don’t seem overwhelmed doesn’t mean I’m not.

It’s not my job to convince others of who I am. My only job is to BE who I am. All I can do is find what makes me happy, and live it.

My bottom lip starts to quiver, but I keep going. “I fight every day, and too many times it’s just not enough and the fear wins. I’m so fucking weak and everything is so fucking intense and sometimes I really hate it.” I gasp, covering my mouth with my hands as the tears pour out of me. I didn’t mean to say all that. I feel exposed. Tears fill her eyes, too. “Can I hug you?” I nod, unable to speak. She walks around the table and hugs me.