Intrusive Thoughts

Placed second place in unstructured poetry at the Mark Twain Writing Conference of 2019.

Anxiety kicks open the door to the mind.

Intruding thoughts flood in and take over.

It takes over the body,

Like how a demon might possess someone.

Everything is in slow motion.

You want to escape but you’re trapped in the prison of the mind.

The room begins closing in.

Everybody becomes distant.

Your skin becomes frigid.

Soon, the throat begins to ache as it closes.

You want to run but there is nowhere to go.

Social anxiety isn’t shyness.

Social anxiety is wanting to be alone,

But not lonely.

Wanting to talk,

But wanting no attention.

Wanting to go out in public,

But fearing judgement.

A constant fear of people’s eyes.

Wanting to accomplish goals,

But being held back.

It’s being locked in prison,

With no key.