The thoughts arrive in whispers,
then pile into a storm,
crowding every corner of my mind
until there’s nowhere left to hide.
Anxiety settles in my stomach,
a sickness I recognize too well,
and panic flickers in my chest-
the first spark before the fire.
I know what’s coming.
I tell myself I could stop it.
If I were stronger.
If I could hold on long enough.
I know every trick, every step, every breath
I’m supposed to take.
But my body betrays me.
It shuts down without warning.
My limbs become strangers.
The air slips through my fingers
before it ever reaches my lungs.
The room tilts.
My head spins.
The world blurs at the edges.
And suddenly,
I’m right back where I started-
trapped inside the same circle,
watching it close around me again.
Alone.
Helpless.
Uncontrollable.
Knowing exactly what is happening,
and powerless to stop it.
2d ago
Jun 1, 2026 at 12:35 PM UTC
The thoughts arrive in whispers,
then pile into a storm,
crowding every corner of my mind
until there’s nowhere left to hide.
Anxiety settles in my stomach,
a sickness I recognize too well,
and panic flickers in my chest-
the first spark before the fire.
I know what’s coming.
I tell myself I could stop it.
If I were stronger.
If I could hold on long enough.
I know every trick, every step, every breath
I’m supposed to take.
But my body betrays me.
It shuts down without warning.
My limbs become strangers.
The air slips through my fingers
before it ever reaches my lungs.
The room tilts.
My head spins.
The world blurs at the edges.
And suddenly,
I’m right back where I started-
trapped inside the same circle,
watching it close around me again.
Alone.
Helpless.
Uncontrollable.
Knowing exactly what is happening,
and powerless to stop it.