Anxiety: The moment logic and reason walk out the door. Its like standing at the bottom of a mountain with the pressure to climb but you have no gear. The room empties and it's just you and your beating heart. The shallow breathing is the quiet reminder that you are still alive. Anxiety is when all your fears are wrapped up in a perfectly tied bundle. You cant move, you're just focused on staying alive. Minutes turn into never ending hours, time is no longer a factor. Noise is electrified into a deafening silence. You're consumed, you feel like you are drowning, staring up at the surface but you can't swim. The escape is no longer there, the signs have gone dim.
I've battled with anxiety ever since I could walk. If I could count the number of times I thought I was going to die I would be rich. We are told its all in our head but anxiety is as real as anything I can touch. We often think our defining qualities stem from our anxiety but we must remember, "WE ARE NOT OUR ANXIETY". We are not those shallow breaths but the strength that comes in between. We are the force that keeps us standing. We are the never ending seconds of bravery. Don't let anxiety define you because you are so much more. Remember you aren't alone, you have the gear to climb that mountain and in those moments you are a warrior. You will survive and not only survive but thrive because you are stronger than your anxiety. Give back that tied up bundle and climb that damn mountain. I'll be waiting for you when you reach that halfway point. Together we will plant our flag of victory.