I remember the first time I noticed something was different about my best friend. It wasn't anything glaringly obvious at first, just subtle shifts in behavior that hinted at an underlying struggle. To protect her privacy, let’s call her Sarah.

Sarah had been my closest friend since childhood. One of the things that I loved about her is that she was the opposite of me in so many ways. She had always been the life of the party – vibrant, outgoing, and unapologetically herself. But as we approached college, she began to change.

Sarah's once effervescent spirit seemed muted, overshadowed by an invisible weight that lingered in the air between us. She became more withdrawn. She didn’t laugh as much, and it was difficult to get her to venture out of the house for a night with friends. At first, I brushed it off as teenage angst, a passing phase that would soon dissipate. But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, it became increasingly clear that something more was going on.

It took a while, but finally Sarah confided in me about her anxiety. She began to explain that even the simplest of tasks had become monumental challenges, each day a relentless battle as she tried to make it through what had previously been a cake walk for her. From homework to parties, everything seemed like a hill she just couldn’t climb.

She did speak with a tinge of hope for the future, which let me know that somewhere deep down, Sarah’s spirit was still in there. That was the day she finally decided to embark on her healing journey, and she didn’t have to do it alone. As best friends do, I lent my support to her however I could to help her manage her anxiety, from late night heart-to-heart conversations to impromptu dance parties in the living room.

I wish I could say that her path was simple, linear. But, of course, it wasn’t. She had plenty of setbacks and moments of such intense anxiety that there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Even as she began to climb those mountains, there were still days where she couldn’t bring herself to do those tasks. Together, we remained steadfast in her healing.

Slowly but surely, I watched as my friend began to reclaim her life. With each passing day, she grew stronger – a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. She sought professional help, armed herself with coping mechanisms, and refused to let fear dictate her destiny. And what do you know? There, in fact, was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sarah still has anxiety. But she is no longer defined by the worst moments. Instead, she has learned to cope. She has more good days than bad. And even on those days where everything feels hard, she knows that she will find a way up again.

I learned so many lessons from watching my best friend overcome her anxiety. The biggest is the power of hope and how it can transform the human spirit. I also came away with an intimate understanding of the importance of professional help with mental health struggles for people of any age.

If you know someone who is struggling with anxiety, encourage them to seek help. And remind them that they are stronger than they realize. Brighter days await on the horizon.