Me and Them

I have these two friends who come to stay, often unannounced. Sometimes I'll get a vague sense of unease and know that they are on their way. Other times, Bam! They are here. They are never welcome. And I never know how long they will stay, but I can be sure that they will eventually go.

Anxiety and Depression. Sometimes they come together, holding hands and slurking up the stairs. Other times they come alone. At least Anxiety has the decency to come and go quickly. I'm never quite sure how long Depression is going to loiter around, messing with my head and making me doubt that I am any good at anything at all.

I have had much Therapy to make dealing with these two more bearable. And along they way I have picked up some little words that help me. I used to keep them on a carefully folded piece of paper in my purse. It is still in there, the edges of the folds fuzzed with time. But now, I have a shiny new technology. And so, I have put them all together with pretty pictures and I have saved them on my phone - for times of need.

If you do not have anxiety these words might seem obvious - or trite. But when you are overtaken by the intense energy that is Anxiety sometimes you need things to be simple. You need to be reminded to breathe. To be reminded that it will be ok. And that is what these little words do for me - they get me through it.

Maybe they will help you too.