Ditto.

Anxiety can kiss my ass.

Thanks, Mary! And yes, you CAN be successful while managing some mental illnesses, for sure. But (speaking generally) I don’t think anyone should beat themselves up if they AREN’T successful despite an illness. IMO, this society places way too much emphasis on the “grind” and positivity at all costs. We should be brave enough to nurture ourselves in whatever way we need.

<3

This:
“Fear rules me in what my brain says are life-or-death situations—even when a tiny voice inside assures me they are not.”

This needs to be reread and absorbed by anyone who has let fear get in the way. The tiny voice needs to get louder. But we’re so hard-wired to believing the worst, aren’t we?

Guilty.

Anxiety is the gift that won’t stop giving.

This is what I needed to read today. Thank you, Lori, for bringing people together t he way you do. It takes incredible courage to talk about things like mental illness. The fear is REAL. And it kept me silent for a LOT of years.

Thank you, Yolander, for being real. For letting me and others like us know that you CAN be successful and manage an illness – the two are not mutually exclusive.

This is a beautiful piece that I will re-read.
Keep on keeping on. <3