2025 Madelyn Wilson Maple Mountain HS

My Struggle with Anxiety

I have suffered from anxiety since I was ten years old. Anxiety presents itself in various ways, but for me it presented in the form of acute migraines and stomach aches. My anxiety intensified during my sophomore year of high school after my family had moved across the country. For the first time in my life, my attendance in school began to suffer and I struggled to keep up in many of my advanced classes. I was in constant pain— mentally and physically— and I had never felt more lost or alone.

It took a long time and a lot of resources for me to finally be able to manage my anxiety. I was able to find a medication that worked for me and utilized therapy to learn positive coping skills. I participated in healthy activities to help me feel more in control, such as horseback riding and learning to play the piano. This year, I have enrolled in a general psychology class to learn even more about my mind and body. At the height of my struggle with anxiety, many of my grades were not reflective of my capabilities, so I decided to retake those classes over the summer in order to really learn the material and improve my GPA. Additionally, I made sure to cultivate my relationship with God. While there were so many times I felt like He wasn’t there, I continued to rely on my existing faith and testimony. Finally, after much perseverance and effort, I felt healthy and back on track.

While I certainly would not choose to go through this experience again, I am so grateful for all that it has taught me. I have learned to commit to my goals and persist in accomplishing them, even when things seem impossible. I have learned that there are many resources available to me and I have gained compassion for others experiencing similar trials. I have been able to befriend so many of my peers I would not have otherwise known because of our shared experiences with mental health. I have also learned to lean heavily on my Heavenly Parents and the Savior, because through them I know I will always find peace.