Anxiety for a kid

Anxiety plagues many of our youth today. It manifests itself in various ways but the feelings are the same. Worry, fear, anxious thoughts. Our youth are in for a battle. This is one child’s story about the ongoing battle with anxiety.

A shadow-like figure approached me. “Hello?” it said, “Could you do me a favor?” “Yes,” I said, “What should you have me do?” Simply flick that light switch is what it told me. When I asked why I was given a horrible response, so naturally I obeyed.

After that I assumed this was my only task, but the figure followed me. He told me I must walk back. I had stepped on the path incorrectly and I had to fix it, even though I was likely to be late to a very important event. I went back and, as expected, was late. The creature told me not to speak a word of this to anyone, so I said I tripped and had to fake a limp for the rest of the evening.

The following day I attended school. The creature was upset with how I was writing and kept instructing me to go back, and I knew not to question. I was dreadfully behind and quickly scribbled without looking at my answer.

After a while of putting up with this monster, I realized no one else could see it. A great dark figure, and they lacked to notice? But it felt so real.

It kept up at night. It told me awful things. But I still followed. I had to be kept busy and engaged so as to not let it in. But this was rather hard at night, when I lay under a blanket of black, feeling alone and silenced.

My behavior against this creature was becoming noticeable. I did not want to do what it said. But I was afraid. I soon learned this creature was in my mind and that others faced similar monsters. I was taken under training from a warrior who taught me strategies to destroy this beast. Every week I trained, ready to defeat this demon after all. But even through all my training, I still was at war. I fought constantly. But I had new weapons. I had been given an arsenal and many soldiers. But it still spoke to me. An angry voice telling me my wrongs. This is an ongoing battle. But I’ve started to win.

“Quickly!” I yelled to my troops, “We haven’t much time before the invasion, bring out the new weapon!” They rolled out a large vial of chemicals they’ve been working on. “Are you sure this will work?” I worriedly asked. “Will it affect us?” “Not that we know of, General, but we’ll keep an eye out.” They assured me.

We released the substance. The enemies cowered beneath it. As I saw them lessening, I thought I could see my freedom.

But like any battle, there were spies.

People said things that strengthened the enemy, and weakened me. Even with our new weapons I was still feeling defeated. But it did get better.

Years after the beginning, I am still fighting. This is an ongoing war. Sometimes I begin to win, and other times I seem to lose. But I’ve acquired new weapons and battle strategies along the way, as well as new soldiers. I still do feel broken sometimes, I still do have sleepless nights, but at least now it doesn’t show, at least now I have found more armies just like mine who I ally with, for I know how they feel. Though this monster isn’t gone, at most I try. We’re an army of stars, battling a destructive creature in an everlasting war. Think of how many battles we don’t know about, and how many strategies we can teach and learn. But always remember, that even though we are fighting for the freedom of our minds, it doesn’t mean we can’t be a happy nation.

Author – Anonymous 12 year old