I was born with a skin condition called eczema. Most kids grow out of eczema by age 7-8. But once I hit puberty, the symptoms got much worse! Year 2020 was a nightmare for everyone. According to WHO, post COVID-19 prevalence of anxiety and depression increased worldwide by 25%. For me this year brought another nightmare - I got the worst ever eczema flare up. I would have not been able to go to school even if we weren’t under a lockdown. When the schools finally opened, I was a high school freshman and that is when I started showing symptoms of stress and anxiety. When Eczema is on your face, you cannot hide it. I started struggling with self-esteem issues around this time, and high school is when you are trying to fit in the most! I tried to fight my feelings of self doubt and guilt, even though I knew eczema is not something that I chose. This started affecting my grades and extracurricular activities and it took me months to understand the connection between my physical and mental health. I started researching strategies and tools that helped me overcome these feelings and get my confidence back. There are many others just like me who suffer from stress and anxiety, whether it is eczema-induced or otherwise- I want them to know that they are not alone!  

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