Afraid of the Stigma: Seeking a Diagnosis for My Anxiety and OSDD

Anything new is scary and I hear you 💕You can still mask!! Honestly getting diagnosed has helped me manage masking- when is appropriate and when to not. If it helps think about it like leveling up your masking skills… masking 2.0. You get to share your diagnosis with whoever you think is safe enough to. It may also help others better understand and support you. I’ve always taken my diagnosises with a grain of salt like yes they help explain certain things and give me clarity but I am me and they don’t rule my identify. And yes it will hopefully get you better treatment and you can gain clarity on what you’re really managing and/or fighting. When I’m scared about doing something what helps me is I tell myself in 24 hrs I’ll know more or something similar to that. It helps me calm down to realize I’m not being thrown into the fire all at once and the further down the road the more info I have to handle situations. You may be afraid now but after that first appointment you may be able to handle more. And if not that’s where the backup plan comes in. Best of luck on the journey and you got this!!! Do it for yourself, make life easier for your future self, and for past self that hasn’t had as much help, knowledge, or experience.