🫧 Anxiety Series — “I Don’t Know What I’m Afraid Of, I Just Am”

1. My Brain Doesn’t Know How to Shut Up

Even when nothing’s wrong,
my thoughts run like a browser with 30 tabs open.
Most of them are useless.
Some of them are scary.
And none of them will let me sleep.

I try breathing. I try distractions.
But the thoughts always come back.
Faster. Louder. Messier.

And no, I’m not being dramatic.
I’m just… exhausted from thinking all the time.

2. I Overthink Everything and I Know It

You say something small,
and I’ll replay it 20 times in my head.
Did you mean it?
Were you annoyed?
Should I have said something different?

I know it’s irrational.
I know I’m spiraling.
But in the moment, it feels real.
Like my brain is just trying to protect me—
by making me doubt everything.

3. The Anxiety You Can’t See

I might look chill.
I might smile. Joke. Work.
But inside, my heart’s racing for no reason.
My stomach’s tight. My breath’s shallow.

Anxiety isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it hides behind routines.
Behind fake calm.
Behind “I’m just tired.”

But trust me, it’s there.
And it takes everything I’ve got to get through the day.

4. I Always Feel Like Something Bad Is About to Happen

Even on good days, I brace for the crash.
I expect the message that ruins my mood.
The silence that means I messed up.
The thing that proves my fear was right all along.

It’s not that I want to feel this way.
It’s just what my brain does.
It prepares for the worst—
even when I’m trying to believe in the best.

5. I Don’t Need Advice. I Just Need Space.

Please don’t tell me to “just relax.”
Please don’t ask me what I’m anxious about—
because half the time, I don’t even know.

I’m not looking for solutions.
I’m looking for someone who gets it.
Someone who won’t rush me to be okay.
Someone who understands that
just making it through the day
can feel like a win.