Lots of people assume that if you're perceptive of your mental health issues, it means you're basically healthy and don't need much help. And when I say perceptive, I mean saying things like "I know that what I'm anxious about isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. I know I'm not in any danger. But I'm still extremely distressed, and I still feel those emotions and feelings and thoughts as if they are reality." 

It almost feels like you are awake and perceptive while having surgery. Aware of every single thing happening in your body, how its affecting you, and where it hurts. Imagine waking up during a surgery, saying "I've been opened up, and hurt a fuck ton," and the surgeon just goes "wow, very perceptive, you know alot for someone in your condition!" Like, that's not what I'm looking for, please actually try to help and sew me the fuck up. 

I wish sometimes I wasn't so 'perceptive', as it then plays into my already massive mountain of guilt and shame. Yes, I know no one at this social function is going to shame me or harm me in a physical way. Yes, I know the vast majority of the time, there is truly nothing threatening in the dark. But I still get stressed in social situations, and I still can't sleep at night. Having these intrusive thoughts are apart of anxiety, a symptom, rather than a badge of courage to wear, and I wish it would be seen as that.