If you’ve been following CMB from the beginning or have scrolled back to early posts, you’ll recall the MY Age of Anxiety (and a bit of Scott Stossel’s too) piece.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is personally ironic as awareness of my own anxiety tends to exacerbate my inner angst.  Although I do agree that societal awareness is no doubt beneficial.  Go #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth!

Since publishing that piece, I’ve had a few panic attacks.  I’ve weaned off an SSRI, which was a slow and sometimes painful drag, but was important for other health reasons.  And I’ve started yoga and mindful meditation, which centers me in a way I didn’t know possible.  I don’t “struggle” with anxiety, it is part of who I am.  But my anxiety is not me, it’s mine.

For me, anxiety exists like waves in the sea–always there, mostly unnoticeable, occasionally lapping at my feet, infrequently stormy.