#generalized

Part of an art lesson I did

Please don’t tell me I’m stressed. Stress doesn’t feel like death. Stress doesn’t sit on your chest. Stress doesn’t move through your body. Head to lungs Lungs to arms Arms to stomach Stress doesn’t make me stop breathing Stress doesn’t stop my heart from breathing. Stress doesn’t live in my skin Stress doesn’t visit everyday Please don’t tell me I’m stressed. Stress doesn’t feel like fear Stress doesn’t feel like the other foot is about to drop Stress doesn’t feel like sweaty palms, shaking hands and weak knees. Stress doesn’t grip my chest like a vise. Stress doesn’t squeeze until my vision blurs Stress can’t make this room spin. Stress can’t make me fall to the floor. Can’t you see? This isn’t stress. So don’t call it that. Stress is minor. Stress comes and goes. This does not. Don’t call it stress. Call it by its name. Anxiety.