You creep up on me on the strangest of times.
A casual remark in a random conversation.
A busy day at work.
A traffic jam on the highway.
And sometimes, you’re the first thing I feel when I wake up.

You started when I was a child.
At that time, I didn’t quite recognize you,
but my body did.
Teeth biting lips and nails,
legs twitching.
All parts of my body, on high alert,
pumping me with adrenalin,
till you would take your leave.

Now, I know the warning signs.
The clenching of my heart.
The shivers.
The short, shallow breaths.
And the immense strength it takes to move or speak or even think.

For when you visit, my mind is completely possessed.
You, anxiety, are the ghost of my mind.
Not by any means my best friend,
but certainly my oldest one.