Why GAD makes you feel like you're failing at being human

# GAD's Report Card on Your Humanity GAD is that teacher who never gives A's, always finds something wrong with your work, and somehow makes you feel like everyone else got the instruction manual for life while you were in the bathroom. ## GAD's Grading System **A+:** Perfect performance with no anxiety (impossible grade - no one receives this) **A:** Handled situation well but worried about it beforehand (points deducted for anxiety) **B:** Got through it but made mistakes or felt awkward (average humans get this, but GAD sees it as failure) **C:** Survived but anxiety was visible to others (failing grade in GAD's book) **F:** Avoided the situation entirely (surprisingly, this also gets an F) ## Subjects GAD Thinks You're Failing ### Social Interactions 101 - **Your performance:** Had a normal conversation with occasional awkward pauses - **GAD's grade:** F - "They definitely think you're weird now" - **Reality check:** Most people don't analyze conversations for hidden meanings ### Professional Competence 201 - **Your performance:** Completed work assignments with normal human imperfection - **GAD's grade:** D - "Everyone can tell you don't know what you're doing" - **Reality check:** Imposter syndrome affects almost everyone; you're probably more competent than you think ### Life Management 301 - **Your performance:** Juggling responsibilities with occasional missed details - **GAD's grade:** F - "Real adults have their act together" - **Reality check:** Nobody has their act completely together; social media lies ### Emotional Regulation 401 - **Your performance:** Having normal human emotions and reactions - **GAD's grade:** F - "You should be able to control your feelings better" - **Reality check:** Emotions are supposed to be felt, not controlled ## The Comparison Trap GAD loves to compare your inside experience to everyone else's outside appearance: - **What GAD sees:** Everyone else is calm, confident, and has it figured out - **What's actually happening:** Everyone else is also struggling with their own version of human messiness - **The truth:** Most people are too busy with their own concerns to judge you as harshly as you judge yourself ## The "Normal People" Myth GAD creates an imaginary category of "normal people" who: - Never worry about social situations - Make decisions quickly and confidently - Don't overthink text messages - Sleep peacefully without 3 AM anxiety sessions - Always know the right thing to say - Never feel awkward or uncertain **Plot twist:** These people don't exist. Everyone is just figuring it out as they go. ## Rewriting Your Internal Report Card ### New Grading Criteria: - **Effort over perfection:** Did you try? That's an A - **Growth over expertise:** Did you learn something? That's an A - **Kindness over performance:** Were you decent to others? That's an A - **Showing up over hiding:** Did you participate in life despite anxiety? That's an A+ ### Extra Credit Opportunities: - Asking for help when you need it - Being honest about your struggles - Setting boundaries to protect your energy - Treating yourself with the same compassion you'd show a friend ## The Humanity Curve Remember that being human includes: - Making mistakes and learning from them - Feeling awkward sometimes in social situations - Not knowing what you're doing half the time - Having emotions that don't always make sense - Needing help and support from others - Growing and changing throughout your life ## GAD Recovery: Accepting Your Humanity 1. **Notice the harsh grading:** "Am I being unreasonably critical of myself?" 2. **Reality test:** "Would I judge a friend this harshly for the same thing?" 3. **Adjust expectations:** "What would 'good enough' look like here?" 4. **Celebrate small wins:** "I showed up despite feeling anxious - that's actually pretty brave" 5. **Practice self-compassion:** "I'm learning and growing, just like everyone else" *btw - you're not failing at being human. You're just human, with all the messy, imperfect, beautiful complexity that comes with it. GAD's grading system is rigged anyway.*