Anxiety VS Depression

(Not a Poem)

Anxiety and Depression are two very different things however  know each other well. More times then not, you see them hand in hand. Both make you feel isolated and scared. But in different ways. And I want to try my best to paint an image in your mind of how they do so.

Picture a giant glass box. All four walls are completely see through. You are in this glass box. And you've just been planted in the middle.Your bare feet are flat against the glass floor. Suddenly, the room starts to vibrate. Almost like the bass of a speaker. And shortly you notice it is going to the beat of your heart rate. It's loud and strong. This attracts people. One after one, more and more people pile into your glass box. At first, it's not so bad. They're minding their own business and you can ignore them. But as each person enters, the volume of the room goes from whispers, to talking, to yelling. Its so loud. It gets dark. The beat Is accelerating. They all have flashlights. They switch them on and wave them about carelessly while jumping to the rhythm. Your senses have no been heightened. Your heart rate increases further and the floor lights up a dull, dark red. It's getting louder and louder and its so crowded and god you can't breath, you need air. Adrenaline is too much. Get out. Where's out. You're cold and clammy. And you're voice is shaking because its trying to decide if you should even speak at all. Your feet are like ice and you are frozen where you stand. The floor gets warmer. You turn and turn and your dizzy and finally there's the door. You try to walk and its like your feet are ice cubes on a hot plate and your unsteady. Forward, just go forward. You reach the exit and you clutch the handle and why the hell is it locked. It's locked. Air. I need air. The door will not open until the bass has been lowered and at least half the flashlights have been shut off. That's the deal. And no matter how many times this happens to your glass box, even though you know what to expect, it never get's easier. But today I escaped.  

Okay now were back, alone, in our glass box. You can see the door, no one in the way. But it's getting cold. A shiver send a chill over your body. Blankets. I need some blankets. I need to stay warm. The temperature keeps dropping. But only in your glass box. Someone knocks on your door. The thick glass meeting their knuckle makes an echo in your frigid box. You turn slowly to see who it is.

"Come out." They say, voice muffled through the glass. You stare back at them. You're tired. And you feel heavy. Like you are made of stone. You manage to slowly creep along to the door. You grab the handle. It's locked. You look up and meet there eyes again.

"I can't." You respond. They look puzzled.

"Just open the door." They say. You jiggle the door handle and still nothing.

"I can't." You repeat. Confused, they step closer and grab the handle. It opens.

"See? It's not that hard." They proclaim. It closes. You reach for it once more. Still locked.

"I can't. I'm trying but I just can't." You say. Teeth chattering from the cold.

"If you didn't want to come out, you could have just said so." The say as they leave. But you did. You do. You want that door open so bad but...but...tired. So tired. So cold. Maybe it will be unlocked when I wake up. Maybe if I bring myself to move closer to the door each day, my warmth will unfreeze the lock. Today I was warm. Today I escaped.

Having trouble on your own? That's okay. Someone who cares will help hold the door open for you. Because you're not alone and you can escape.