Anxiety

It begins…

As a low, humming electrical current
Throbbing near the center of my tail bone
Sending pulses to arouse me
And activate my toes
To tap and scrape against the ground

It grows…

Into a constant surge along my spine
Pulling taut the skin around my chest
So tight that I can hardly breathe
My throat closing on the air
Every respiration a shallow gasp

It swells…

And evolves into tingling
Throughout my core
My stomach churns
My hands become cold and numb
My head simultaneously heavy and lightheaded

It erupts…

Pouring out frenzied movement
And feverish talk
And stale metallic tastes
I pace within my cage
Searching for an escape

It speaks…

In a hundred different voices
Whispering incoherently
Stealing my attention
Blurring my thoughts
Until I cannot see

But what if…

I welcome the current
And tell the tightness to wait
Or cherish the tingling
Allowing the frenzy and voices to move without me
It’s all an illusion