Dear Anxiety

You mysterious being

I don’t need you now.

Dear Anxiety

Leave me, and I’ll let you go.

You were a good friend.

-The Poet of Windy Blue

This week is mental health awareness week, so it is awfully fitting that I have been putting in work recently to face some of my fears, work on stress management, and anxiety. Recently, I have been feeling that the anxious energy that may have fueled me in the past decade to be a consistent high achiever might not be serving me any longer. Sure, in a way, it gave me endless energy to stay up late studying in high school and college while juggling a long list of extracurriculars. Sure, it gave me fuel while my career was a fledging and saw it through 7 years of growth and change, but now, I am thinking I can turn to this old friend, thank them for their assistance, and let go of their hand. Anxiety was a hell of a drug, but now it is more of nuisance than anything. Luckily my friend over here never grew too monstrously large or looming, but it is probably best if I wish them well now before our relationship changes (as all do) and they become a bully or worse.

Additionally, it is fitting that this is mental health week, because last weekend was Mother’s Day. Which, giving the nature of losing my mom to suicide, always amplifies these issues for me around this time of the year.  I feel like I miss her extra this year, and I hope that by sharing stuff like this, I could potentially help others avoid her fate. No one should have to feel like they’re alone with their mental health issues, and for those that are left behind, the pain is almost equally bad.

Anxiety is a silent killer, folks. As is depression. Get help if you feel you can’t wrestle it on your own, or at least tell someone. Anyone. You are not alone.

I’ve got another post ready for y’all tomorrow, so stay tuned. Peace.

-The Poet of Windy Blue