First, let me state that I am not a professional of any sort when it comes to mental health. My only claim is that of one who experiences anxiety. For the first six months of the pandemic, I couldn’t bring myself to write. I honestly had freakouts when I allowed my brain to roam and my writing time was fertile ground for paranoia that sprouted into a panic. Six months of panic! Imagine that. The act of scrubbing hands, avoiding people like the plague (pun intended), and trying not to scream while in the grocery store was enough to make one flush with worry. I feel like it took so long because there was no plateau in sight. Things just kept popping up in the news and it fueled my imagination to epic proportions. It took me places I didn’t want to go.

Anxiety is a strange thing. It’s like hearing boss level music, but not realizing you’re even in a fight. Or how about that nagging feeling of did you leave the stove on and now you’re going to burn your house down. How about, did I lock the door, let me go check just to make sure because I’m absent minded due to my brain only focusing on one thing at a time. Yeah. Fun times! I’ve noticed it’s also manifested as sore throats. The minute we go out to our weekly grocery run I feel like a cold is coming on. During the week, I’m okay, I can manage, but once I get into the ‘outside’… things take a different turn mentally.

So, how did I finally get back to writing? Well, I finally sat down, re-read a few pages of my WIP and was like okay. Today is the day. I’ve written two books, I can write one more, and another, and another. I sat down, put on my head phones and chair danced to all the songs that usually get me out of my funk.

Low – Cracker (I’m a sucker for this song because I have green eyes)
Glycerine – Bush
Just a girl – No Doubt
Killing in the name – Rage against the machine
Possum Kingdom – Toadies (the song that inspired A Raven’s Touch)
Karma Police – Radiohead
Good – Better than Ezra
I’m Gonna be (500 miles) – The Proclaimers
I wish – Skee-Lo
Your Woman – White Town
Sexual (Li Da Di) – Amber
Dance, Dance – Fall Out Boy
Blow up the Outside World – Soundgarden

The list could go on, but these helped a lot. Some I listened to on repeat for a good 10 minutes, some just once, but they all played a fun part in helping me shake it of and reminding me that I do love writing, I love it so much I don’t ever want to live without it.

Maybe music will help? Maybe painting? Who knows whatever your kick in the pants is, but this is what worked for me.