Dear Anxiety

V.H....all I can say is Wow! That was beautiful, insightful, honest, raw, sad and yet hopeful all at the same time! Thank you so much for sharing that.

And yes, this is a great thread idea. I hope that others members will also write their letters. I may also, just not tonight, it's getting late. I look forward to reading others tomorrow!

Great job!
Scaredy Cat

Hey I think this is a really awesome idea. I love creative writing! And you did a very good job with your letter. Very honest and beautiful! Because I think it's a really great idea for getting feelings out, I wrote my own letter. Here it is:

Dear Anxiety,

I can’t believe that after being so close for so long, we’re starting to grow apart. We’ve been through so much together, though more bad than good (but you always seemed to be happy). Now that I think about it, I don’t know why we were friends in the first place. You always wanted to be in control, and I fought you for years and years, pushing you away, but you refused to go. You insisted that we had to be together. And after a while I started to like you in a strange way. At least I knew that when I was with you, I was safe. And now you are finally letting go. It feels so strange to be free. I’ll miss you. What will I do without you? Can I go make some friends, and talk in class, and go on a road trip to somewhere I’ve never been? Or will you come find me and stop me? Maybe I’ll be myself in the ways that you never would let me. Is that okay?

Remember all those times when you embarrassed me in class by making me throw up in front of the classmates that I was already afraid of? And when you prevented me from making any other friends because you wouldn’t let me talk to anyone? And when you made me get zeros for all those participation grades because you wouldn’t let me add in my own comments? You’re very selfish you know. Oh and then there were all those times when I was driving and you made me dizzy and shaky and even made it hard to breathe just because you didn’t want me to be near the traffic or to get lost. In fact, there were even a few days when you didn’t let me leave the house at all because you thought that everyone would stare at me and think mean things. How can you really say you liked me if you thought that? You hurt me so much, so many times, that I get sick even if you just come near me. And I call you a friend?

I guess despite all of that, I can say that I liked the security you provided me with. You would never let me do anything that would put me in any sort of danger. Wouldn’t let me get yelled at or made fun of or hit. Wouldn’t even let me get lost or hear something too loud (it might make me deaf). I can say that you are at least part of the reason why I am still alive. But I like to think that I had something to do with it too.

Without you, I’ll have to learn how to trust myself. I’ll have to relearn what is safe and what isn’t. And hopefully I will conclude that you were wrong all those years because I hated the way you made me live. And the ways that you made me feel. If I could do it all over again, I would have learned how to stay safe on my own, and I never would have let you near me.

Unfortunately, that is not the case, and I did let you into my life. And now I have to deal with the consequences on my own. But it’s okay because I have already planned great things for the future that you would never have let me do! (Oops I shouldn’t have told you that.) Well don’t come looking for me because I will be hiding very well in the disguise of a happy, carefree person. You would never guess it was the same me that you knew. Besides, it would be an awfully expensive plane ride to come chase me! And I know you don’t have money because you act the same way that you made me act for all those years. And it’s awfully hard to be successful and make money when you’re afraid of everything. So good luck! I feel really bad for the next poor soul that you attach yourself to. Maybe I should have pressed charges for all that pain you caused me and had you locked up. No one else deserves to be treated the way you treated me.

Hope to never see you again.

Sincerely,
your ex-best-friend

Awesome idea. I have wrote letters to my hubby and left them on the kitchen counter to let him know how I feel about my anxiety/depression but this idea is great.

I found your letter and toutserabon to be very touching, brave and inspiring and I know the other members will feel the same.

Thanks you so much for sharing with us. (((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))

Gentle hugs,

Kitt

Amazing, truely an inspired idea!!!!

Dear Anxiety,

This letter is to inform you that your employment at S.C. Inc. has been terminated effective immediately.

After careful review, it has been found that your services are no longer needed. (and come to think of it, never really wanted!)

You have received several disciplinary warnings in the past, with no positive changes noted in your work quality or demeanor.

It is apparent that upon your arrival, over-all work production and company morale have suffered greatly.

This leaves the company with no other choice than to terminate your position. You will receive no severance package (as if!) and are asked to return all company property (courage, peace, well-being, ect...) to your Department Manager.

We regret to inform you that we will not provide future references, but wish you luck in the future. (you're going to need it)

Sincerely,
S.C. Inc.