by Dan Stelter

Created on: April 05, 2009

Those of us afflicted with anxiety often find that we are telling ourself that we are "idiots, should have known better, should be able to do better, should not be anxious in this situation," or any other number of self-critical comments. We often feel as though all we are is anxious, that we are the only ones to blame for our anxious state, and that something is fundamentally wrong with us that makes us less worthwhile than other people. But, are such statements true? Should we really feel bad about ourselves simply because we struggle with anxiety, which can often be very visible to others?

In every sphere of life, from the greatest leaders to the meekest individuals, every person has had struggles, and many times, those who are viewed as the "greatest" failed, sometimes spectacularly. Athletes are one group of people held in high esteem by society. But, everyone knows the troubles that athletes often find. Most notably, O.J. Simpson, a Hall of Fame NFL running back, was recently convicted on multiple charges of robbery. Many of us will also recall how he avoided being convicted for the murders of Ron and Nicole Goldman thirteen years ago. During the 1970's, Simpson was hailed as one of the great NFL running backs of his time. But despite his elite status in society, he has failed to overcome his problems, and now finds himself sitting in jail. We do not need to delve into any further detail when discussing the issues of athletes and the law (Whitcomb, 2008).

The political sphere is another arena where personal struggles have crept into the limelight. Even our nation's forefathers had their own struggles. Recently, it has come to light that Thomas Jefferson most probably had sexual relations with one of his slaves, Sally Hemmings. According to Gee, "Historians have long known that Thomas Jefferson, the third President (1801-1809) fathered a child by one of his slaves" (1998). So, even our nations forefathers had their own struggles, in this case with inappropriate sexual relations. And, is it really necessary to detail the affairs of John F. Kennedy or Bill Clinton?

Finally, if the preceding evidence was not enough to demonstrate to the reader that everyone has struggles which must be overcome, then consider this case. Gandhi, the liberator of India, by all accounts, was a shy, reclusive, and serious person, even into his adulthood. One source states that he was "...a rather unsuccessful, terribly shy lawyer" (Trussell, 2004). Gandhi also was "...too shy to

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