Valley of the Shadow of My Anxiety

Yesterday the world lost an incredible talent in the passing of Robin Williams. This brilliant soul who wrestled with depression found himself unable to fight another battle and chose to lay down his weapons so he could enter rest. So many of us fight back against depression, anxiety or any number of other battles in our minds but do so privately. I'm choosing to share a bit of my own journey with this poem because I know I am not alone and hope someone else feels less alone in reading. I walk in the Valley of the Shadow of DeathInky black creepingDark velvet cloakingAnxiety chokingI wrestle to breathe,To see,To feel sane against the tension of it's tentacles pulling at my psycheI will fear no evilI hate this evil for robbing me of my peaceIt's overwhelmingBut I will fightIt cannot win,And I cannot loseSo I push back at the darkness with my lightcasting shadows on these Valley wallsGET OFF OF ME,God is with me,I cryRepeating it like mantraUntil words become chant and chant becomes truthAnd truth becomes balmI am centeredI'm am drainedWeary, tired wandererMental muscles peakedBinding wounds in my mind battle after battleSurely mercy will follow me all the days of my lifeIts the only weapon I have to fightThis war against my anxiety