Words by Lydia, VIC
I wrote Imagined, Real during the week before exams to show how my anxiety manifests itself. I wanted to describe the physical symptoms and suffocating feelings it brings and how helpless it can make me feel. It’s so hard to explain to people what it’s like to be anxious and how restrictive it can be, so this poem was my attempt at explaining what it’s really like. Focussing on physical aspects of anxiety was also important to me to prove that anxiety is not something that is not ‘just in my head’, as some people wrongly believe.
Tight shoulders, neck, jaw.
Pain in the left side,
Between two ribs
An intense stabbing,
Throbbing pain
Concocted by an uneasy mind,
Imagined, Real.
Snapping, cracking, crumbling
Voice, posture, confidence.
Hands shaking, fidgets, scratches,
Taptaptaps and drums on the desk
Lip bleeds, bitten.
Eyes, deep brown and watery
Try, fail to focus.
An unwelcome thing
That shares her brain
Not today
Sorry
Not today
Try again
Tomorrow
Illustration by Aileen, You can find more of her work on Instagram @aileenetc
