Dear Depression and Anxiety,

Depression, you make me feel like I'm nothing. You are the thoughts running through my head saying, "kill yourself," "you're worth nothing," "nobody loves you." You are the blade running along my wrists and my thighs. You are the sleepless nights and the falling asleep in class because I don't see the point in listening anymore if I'm not going to live another night. You are the homework that was never turned into my teachers because what's the point anymore? You are my father's empty chair at my graduation that I never thought I would actually live to see. You are not looking when I cross the street because if I get hit then I get hit. You are the not eating because who cares if I die from starvation or dehydration. You are the not putting any effort into living. You are Anxiety's best friend. You make me afraid to live.

Anxiety, you share a lot of traits with your friend, but you are ruthless. You take what depression has already said and you put something physical behind it. You are the tightening in my chest when I try to breathe. You make every breath feel as if there is a python giving its favorite hug to my lungs. You build on depression's sleepless night with thoughts like "nobody really wants you around," "remember that thing you did five years ago? Everyone is still laughing about it," "you should be ashamed of yourself" and "you're an embarrassment." You are the pain in my body when I get anything wrong, even the tiniest thing. You are the little voice in my head that shouts and drowns out anything else. You are the shaking in my voice and my hands when I take a customer their order, afraid of messing up and getting yelled at. You are the starving myself for weeks to be skinny then eating too much because what if my mom notices? You are best friends with depression. You make me afraid to die.

You are best friends working towards a common goal but constantly fighting about the path you should take to get there.

You two make a hell of a team, don't you?