Dear Anxiety,
I hope you're having a nice night tonight, I truly do. I hope you're sitting outside on the patio with your friends and family, enjoying the nice weather and having a calm, relaxing time. That's what I was doing before you intruded on me and showed up to the party uninvited. The seven-letter word I did not ask for in my life, no one did. Yet you still came to hang out, to have a good time, right? You saw all the fun I was having and wanted to join in, no harm in that...except there is. You see, you are responsible for many days and nights ruined.
I don't know if you're aware of this, because of you nonchalantly showing up, moods are shot, plans are cancelled, dates are "postponed" but never rescheduled. We're afraid that you're going to sneak right back in at the worst times like you always do. When will you realize that no one wants you around? Everything would be so perfect and ideal if you stopped coming to hang out.
Because of you, my brain is filled with so many coping mechanisms for when you show up. Do they work? For the most part, I would have to say no. Every time you're around, your attacks get worse and worse. We're not talking the little "Oh my, I have so much work to do I'm going to freak out!" attacks. We're talking the full blown missing class because you can't keep it together, getting sick at the thought of leaving your dorm to go see a person or do a certain thing, eating in front of people, not getting work that you need to, attacks. The attacks that can be manageable, but it's a process to do so.
You're so much of a problem that half of the time, you're not even considered a real problem. How does that feel? I bet you thrive off that, gaining momentum for your next victim. If someone says "I had an anxiety attack, I couldn't come to class," they are laughed at, they're not taken seriously. Go on vacation, get out of everyone's hair, pick on someone your own size. If only you knew the kind of stuff you put into our heads.
To quote "22 Jump Street," "I came out to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now." That's the best way to summarize you. Here's an idea, how about the next time you try to get inside our head, get inside your own head. Mess up your own life, anxiety, instead of ours. We didn't ask for this. I speak on behalf of those who suffer from anxiety on the regular, I think it would be best if you just went away. I do mean this in the nicest way, of course. No harsh feelings...(OK, maybe a few harsh feelings).
Love,
The Mental Health Community
