It’s like a radio stuck between stations. Static and half-thoughts. I’m nervous all of the time. I can’t stop picking and chewing at my skin. Yesterday I hung something on a wall and spent hours thinking about the fact that I didn’t center it properly. I try to unwind with video games. Listen to music. Drink tea. Take everything from fish oil and vitamins to ayurvedic herbal supplements. None of this is helping, is it?
For years I’ve unsuccessfully practiced Transcendental Meditation and, when I do settle into a daily groove with it, I either fall asleep or come up with ideas for writing. Granted, a lot of my anxiety comes from feeling inadequate at writing, so getting ideas or clarity on that front is nice — but a part of me hopes that my well-being doesn’t have to be tied to creativity or productivity. I just want to feel better.
While 20% of Americans are diagnosed with mental health conditions — and nearly half of all Americans report symptoms — seeking therapy is expensive to most and inaccessible to many. Often, mental health professionals don’t accept commercial insurance and in some states the number of licensed therapists available is so low that only single digits of the…
