What My Anxiety Has Taught Me About Resilience

I used to think resilience meant being unshaken—pushing through tough moments without letting them get to me. I believed that if I felt fear, sadness, or doubt, I was failing at being strong. But I’ve come to realize that resilience isn’t about being fearless—it’s about moving forward with fear. It turns out, bravery often feels a lot like being terrified.

Anxiety has been a constant in my life, sometimes a quiet hum, sometimes an overwhelming storm. It’s convinced me that worst-case scenarios are inevitable, that uncertainty is dangerous, that I’m somehow not enough. But despite everything, I’ve always made it through. Not always gracefully, not always without tears or panic, but I have made it. And I’m finally realizing that doing that? That’s real strength.

For a long time, I thought resilience meant pushing my feelings aside, pretending I was fine no matter what. But the truth is, bottling things up doesn’t make me strong—it just makes me exhausted. Real strength comes from acknowledging what I’m feeling, sitting with the discomfort, and still choosing to move forward. Resilience isn’t about having no fear; it’s about showing up anyway, even when fear is right there with me.

Looking back, I can see how anxiety, in its own frustrating way, has shaped me. It’s made me more intentional about self-care, helped me understand what I need to feel okay, and taught me how to challenge my own thoughts. It’s tested me in ways I never wanted, but it’s also proven to me—again and again—that I’m stronger than I give myself credit for.

I no longer buy into the idea that strength means going through things without feeling anything. Strength looks like taking a deep breath when my heart is racing. It looks like asking for help when I need it. It looks like giving myself grace on the hard days. Most importantly, it looks like reminding myself that I have survived every single tough moment in my life—and come out the other side stronger. That is resilience. That is enough.

So, if you’re struggling with anxiety, please remember this: You don’t have to be fearless to be strong. Feeling things deeply doesn’t make you weak. And even on the days when it feels impossible, you are proving your resilience just by showing up. Keep going—you’re doing better than you think.