they say that you should stop to let yourself breathe
that you shouldn't constantly be throwing yourself from task to task
not even stopping to eat without finding something to occupy my mind- TV, video games, music blasting in my ear.
I keep my body moving and my mind stimulated so the things deep in my mind don't have time to surface.

they say you need to step back and take a breath
and let yourself think. let yourself feel
but when i try.
when i finally allow myself remember
when i finally let myself reflect
"stepping back to take a breath"
is nothing but pain in my chest