Anxiety is - waking up for work and being paralyzed in bed for 45 minutes by nausea, tightness in my chest and an oncoming panic attack. Once I can move, I'm late for work, so I ask to come in late. I lay in bed, sick, scared and writing poetry - hoping for something to save me.

Anxiety has - no power over me.
Depression has - no power over me.
My voice is my own. My voice is kind.

No other voice may rule my mind.

Anxiety is - hearing your co-workers talk quietly in another room, and assume they're planning to fire you. (With no evidence whatsoever).

Depression is - telling yourself you deserve to be fired anyway.

Depression is - emptying me.

Anxiety is - drying me out.

Depression is - getting coffee and a donut before work, knowingly making yourself late, because you are just so desperate for something - anything, to make you feel even the tiniest bit happy.

Anxiety is - telling yourself that all you'll be is fat and late for work - never happy.

Depression is - locking yourself in the bathroom at work for as long as you can get away with, and laying on the floor. Praying to fall asleep and wake up anywhere else.

Anxiety is - constant throbbing disdain for everyone around you, and the inability to explain what's wrong.