A place to show my work
Whispers surround me, soft and low,
Rising anxiety begins to grow.
A current of fear, a wave of dread,
Overwhelming thoughts fill my head.
In shadows they linger, weaving their tale,
Stirring my heart, making me frail.
A tempest of worry, a storm in my chest,
In silence I struggle, longing for rest.
As whispers encircle, I yearn for the light,
To calm this distress and banish the night.
With hope as my anchor, I seek to find peace,
To quiet the voices, let my worries cease.
To face social anxiety isn’t a fight,
It’s a journey we take, not a wrong or a right.
Though it may seem daunting, it’s not all despair,
Sometimes anxiety can show us we care.
Feel the flutter, the cautious mind,
In those moments of doubt, strength you’ll find.
Embrace the jitters, let them be near,
For they can guide you, lessen your fear.
You have the power, the choice in your hand,
To keep anxiety in its own gentle land.
So take a deep breath, let your courage shine,
You are not alone; you’re on your own line.
In shadows deep, I often tread,
With fear of judgment in my head.
But step by step, I faced the crowd,
Learning to speak, yet not too loud.
I asked my questions, listened close,
In quiet moments, I would boast.
Of strengths I have, of deeds I’ve done,
Building confidence, one by one.
With help I sought, I found my way,
Through social storms, I learned to sway.
Though sometimes still, I feel that ache,
I know it’s fine; it’s mine to take.
Each struggle faced, a step to grow,
In this brave dance, I’ve come to know,
That being me is quite enough,
Embracing who I am, though tough.
Worry consumes like fog that’s here to stay,
Anxious thoughts entwined, they lead me astray.
Emotions run wild, like a storm on the sea,
Yet deep in my heart, peace whispers to me.
It wraps around troubles, a soft, gentle light,
Calming the chaos that dances at night.
Though shadows may linger and doubts may arise,
In the end, it’s serenity that opens my eyes.
So I’ll breathe in the calm, let go of the strife,
Embracing the stillness, reclaiming my life.
For although worry clings, it cannot control,
The tranquility found in a soothed, steady soul.
Tension heavy in the air,
my mind races, a relentless storm.
Small worries grow, taking shape and form.
Thoughts spiral out of control,
each breath quickens, a frantic drum,
Tension heavy in the air.
The weight of silence feels so loud,
lost in what-ifs that come and go,
my mind races, a relentless storm.
A shadow dances in the corner,
gripping tight, as doubts start to hum,
Small worries grow, taking shape and form.
But somewhere within, a whisper fights,
reminding me to breathe and stay calm,
Tension hangs heavy in the air.
MAD Missy 😠
Voices speaking, but can’t decipher,
Heart beating rapidly.
Skin begins to itch, eyes scattering all around,
Need to find a way out.
The need to escape intensifies.
Feel the need to tear my skin with my nails,
to get rid of the itch.
Breathing coming in short pants, as things intensifies
Will this every end,
Or will it continue?
The urge to escape, to run,
Gets worse every second
Thoughts racing in my head,
Millions thoughts swirling around.
Fidgetiness has begun
Scratching myself to ease the worry
Then, a calm, soothing voice speaks my name.
Slowly, I turn my attention to the voice.
I look into their eyes, and I see understanding.
I begin to realize I am safe, and no harm will come.
Listen to him as he calms my soul,
Teaching me another strategy.
When complete,
I am whole again.
MAD Missy
Let me introduce Mr. Finster, aka my anxiety. He used to play a huge role in my life, but he has recently gotten smaller than before. I have learned that it is okay to have anxiety in your life as long as it doesn’t rule your life. For many years, that is what Mr. Finster did. With therapy and the right medication, things have been improving, and I will continue to work on strategies to make sure that he does not overrun my life again and learn how to become friends with my anxiety. The drawing was a mixture of two characters, one from a book and one from a TV show. Can anyone guess who they are?
MAD 10/20/24
Allie was an alligator unlike any other in the swamp. While most of her fellow gators were fearless and bold, she was anxious and fearful. She didn’t understand why she was so different, but it seemed to affect every aspect of her life.
While other alligators spent their days basking in the sun and hunting for food, Allie could often be found hiding in the shadows, her heart racing with fear. She was terrified of the unknown, of things she couldn’t control, and of the other creatures in the swamp
Allie’s anxiety had been with her ever since she was a hatchling. She was always the smallest of her siblings, and her parents were overprotective, warning her of all the dangers in the swamp. As she grew older, her anxiety only intensified, and she struggled to fit in with the other gators.
One day, while hiding in the shadows, Allie overheard the other gators talking about a new alligator in the swamp. His name was Derek, and he was known for his bravery and strength. The other alligators were impressed by him, but Allie felt a wave of jealousy and inadequacy wash over her. She knew she could never be like Derek.
But fate had other plans for Allie. As luck would have it, she and Derek crossed paths while hunting for food. Derek was immediately drawn to Allie’s shy and anxious demeanor, and he could tell she was different from the other gators.
He approached her cautiously, not wanting to startle her, and introduced himself. Allie was taken aback by Derek’s kindness and couldn’t believe he wanted to be friends with her. They began talking, and Allie found herself opening up to Derek about her anxiety and fears.
To her surprise, Derek was understanding and empathetic. He shared his own struggles and helped Allie understand that her anxiety was nothing to be ashamed of. With his support, Allie started to come out of her shell, and she and Derek became the closest of friends.
Derek showed Allie how to be brave and face her fears head-on. He taught her how to swim faster and hunt for food more efficiently. He even introduced her to other creatures in the swamp, showing her that they weren’t as scary as she thought.
As their friendship grew, Allie’s anxiety started to fade away. She gained confidence and was no longer afraid to explore the swamp. She even joined Derek in basking in the sun and taking on some of the bigger predators like the crocodiles and pythons.
Allie’s transformation was remarkable, and her family couldn’t believe the change in her. They were proud of her and happy that she had found such a good friend in Derek. Allie realized that she didn’t have to be like the other gators in the swamp. She could be her unique self, and that was more than enough.
Allie’s anxiety may have been a burden, but it also led her to meet her best friend and find courage she never knew she had. From that day on, Allie was no longer known as the anxious alligator. She was Allie, the brave and fearless gator who had found her place in the swamp.
-M.A.D.
Special thanks to my collaborator on this Rengay, Anthony
https://empathmuch.wordpress.com/
Overcrowded places.
Bring out my anxiety.
Remember to breathe.
Don’t let it overwhelm you.
Just be brave and keep going…
-MAD/AAA 07/21/2024
Poem by Anthony
ANXI – Anthony’s Crazy Love and Life Lessons in Empathy (wordpress.com)
–
Clutching you when you least expect
Coldness like a Zombie’s hand
Little to do or even protect
Fear waves its toxic wand.
–
Heart is racing beating faster
You take deep breaths to try and cope
Your body turns to rigid, skin alabaster
As you grasp at slipping notions of hope.
–
It’s taken you now you’re frozen in place
Triggered and frayed like a live wire
A icy gaunt look on your face
You suffer deep in anxiety’s ire.
–
Its Crippling debilitating
And takes a big toll on
Endlessly contemplating
Until happiness is gone.
–
Many a victim doth it take
Chaining them to over thought
Trying to avoid a break
From a disaster that may be wrought.
–
Stand in strength and hold on fast
Strength inside far more than you know
This internal nagging will not last
Take this opportunity to grow.
–
Take control you got this now.
Your mind drifts back to normalcy
Taking command of your fears, wow
It’s the strongest you can be…
–aaa
Welcome to the daily Three Things Challenge. Use your imagination and creativity using one, two or all three words that may or may not be related. …
Three Things Challenge #M725
WORRY
ANXIOUS
EMOTIONAL
Worry consumes like fog that’s here to stay,
Anxious thoughts won’t seem to go away.
Emotions running wild, hard to control,
But in the end, peace consoles the soul.
-M.A.D
Thank you 🙏 everyone who has liked my work. I was convinced to start this blog by a great friend and I am that I have.
-M.A.D.
What fears have you overcome and how?
I struggle with social interactions and the fear of being judged by others. To overcome this, I gradually exposed myself to social situations, focusing on listening and asking questions to alleviate the pressure of being the center of attention. I also worked on building my self-confidence by reminding myself of my strengths and accomplishments. Additionally, I decided to seek professional help to gain more insights and strategies for dealing with social anxiety. There are times to this day that I still struggled with this but I have learned that it is okay.
As for my fear of spiders, I gradually desensitized myself to them by learning more about them and observing them from a distance. This helped me realize that they are not as scary as they seem.
-M.A.D.
My heart races, my palms sweat,
As I enter the crowded room.
My mind is filled with worry and regret,
As I search for a place to resume.
The fear of judgment weighs me down,
As I try to blend in with the crowd.
I feel like a stranger in my own town,
As I struggle to speak out loud.
The eyes upon me feel like a spotlight,
Exposing every flaw and mistake.
I wish I could disappear from sight,
And hide away from all the fake.
But I know I must face my fears,
And push through the discomfort and pain.
For only then will I truly appear,
And break free from the social anxiety chain.
-M.A.D.
M.A.D. Works 