Anxiety

This free verse poem describes what it's like to experience anxiety, coming from someone who has been dealing with it for years. Hoping it will shed some light on the stigma surrounding anxiety.

Bones shake and I can no longer breathe.
An elephant sits on my chest,
Weighing me down.
The words trapped inside realize the room has filled with my tears.
I try to keep my composure,
Only to fall to the ground.
My heart runs as fast as it can from the shadows that threaten it.
My lungs scream for oxygen though I'm sitting still.
Skin becomes ice cold and I can't feel anything.
So much noise I can't hear anything.
I fear of losing more than my mind.
Tears continue to run down my cheeks.
My insides cave in on each other,
Twisting and churning.
Finally, the air stills and my heart slows.
No one notices the nightmare I have just experienced.
And so I continue on with my day as if nothing has happened.
For this is just a normal occurrence.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think many could relate to this...even if they have only had a few bouts of anxiety...it can occur much more often for some...and it is scary.
the poem itself gives us the feel you want us to have...we feel the anxiety along with the speaker.
My one suggestion would be to leave out the description and just let each reader understand and identify with the piece as he or she will.
j.