It has been a long road. I have gained the power to push through my anxiety. Now, I do what it takes to be successful in the world. I earn a living or do necessary tasks without anxiety getting in the way. I know I can get through what it takes to make it happen.

Anxiety often rides along with many autistic people. It can be what makes them afraid to do things. They also think they can do things out of fear of something terrible happening. Countless times, my anxiety has gotten in the way and kept me from doing things. Now, I am doing so much better. People have believed in and supported me even when I did not want to do things. They helped when I didn’t think I had the ability to do what was asked of me. Some showed me or told me that I had the power to do what I had to do.

Things can happen in my life that cause anxiety. It sometimes prevents me from wanting to do things for no particular reason. I don’t think I want or can do something. My brain tries to convince me not to act out of fear. It suggests that someone will make me mad or something bad will happen. Despite this, I still push through and do what it takes. Even if it tires me out, I know there are often others depending on me. There are also those who expect me to show them their potential. They want to know who they can be if they also fight through their anxiety.

I push myself because I know many believe in my ability to succeed. They can count on me to get things done. Others see what I do and want similar success for themselves. This is true even if they aim to achieve it in a different way than I do. It gives them the opportunity to see that they can succeed too. If they do what they need to do, they can make things work. They will do the things they want because they see me doing it. I hold things together in a natural way.

It is hard to believe. Until a decade ago, I struggled to do the things that I do now to earn a living. Back then, these tasks seemed like the things I feared the most. I avoided them because I was afraid something bad would happen to me. I had to realize that terrible things were not going to happen. If things did not go as planned, that was just how the job was. I would not get in trouble for doing my part. I endured some changes while battling my own issues over the past few years. While overcoming them, I learned to let my fear go. I realized I had to do things that were out of my comfort zone. I had the power to do them. I learned what it took to get through the day without causing a fuss or ruckus. Reacting in a way that was unbecoming of me was unacceptable.

It has been a long road for me to get to this point in my life. I can do what it takes to get what I need. I will not let my anxiety win its power and hold everything back. I know that is not healthy. It allows me to believe that I can’t. Instead, I know I can do what it takes. I can overcome my fears to do what I need. I can go through what I have to go through.