Hello, I Am a Person: A Poem About Anxiety

Hello, I am the girl in

the dorm next to you.

I don’t really know how

to say this, so I am going to just speak.

Hello, I am the girl

down the hall.

I don’t know what you’ve

been told about me, so I am just going to speak.

Hello, I am your roommate.

I don’t know what I did

to offend you, so I am just going to speak.

Hello, I am your

classmate.

I don’t want to bother

you, so I am just going to speak.

Hello, I am your

employee.

I don’t want to let you

down, so I am just going to speak.

Hello!

I am a person.

Last semester I almost died by

suicide.

I am a person.

Last summer I lost people I

thought were my best friends.

I am a person.

Last year I was bullied.

I am a person.

Last year I made

mistakes.

I am a person.

Last year I hurt some

people.

I am a person.

Last year I hurt myself,

more.

Hello!

I am a person who

is afraid.

Hello!

I am a person who

is crying out.

Hello!

I am a person who

is sorry.

Hello!

I am a person who

needs a friend.

Hello!

I am a person who

is terrified.

Hello!

I am a person who

needs help.

Hello!

I am a person who

wants to please you.

Hello!

I am a person.

Hello! I am a person.

I don’t

want your pity.

I don’t want your stares.

I don’t want your false friendliness.

I don’t want your

acceptance.

I don’t want anything

from you.

Hello! I am a person. I don’t

want your pity.

I want your friendship.

I want to be invited.

I want to laugh with you.

I want to watch Netflix

until one in the morning with you.

I want to eat in the dining

room with you.

I want to talk to you.

I want to study with you.

I want to work with you.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship.

I need it.

I need tissues.

I need hugs.

I need companionship.

I need help.

I need to listen.

I need to laugh.

I need to forget.

I need comfort.

Hello, I am a person. I don’t

want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it.

I have something.

I have your back.

I have the notes.

I have a shoulder

I have an ear.

I have a smile.

I have an open door.

I have a bed.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it. I have something.

You

can’t see it.

You can’t see my

thoughts.

You can’t see my tears.

You can’t see my longing.

You can’t see my muscles

tense up.

You can’t see my hands

sweat.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it. I have something. You

can’t see it.

I don’t want to explain it.

I don’t want to blame my

fears on it.

I don’t want to blame

you.

I don’t want it.

I don’t know how it

affects me.

I don’t want it to affect

you.

I don’t want to broadcast

it.

I don’t want the world to

know my secrets.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it. I have something. You

can’t see it. I don’t want to explain it. I want to be more than it.

I want to be happy.

I want to be wanted.

I want to be social.

I want to be loved.

I want to be me.

I want to be able to

party.

I want to be able to

drink coffee.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it. I have something. You

can’t see it. I don’t want to explain it. I want to be more than it. Sadly, I

can’t.

I can’t sleep.

I can’t shop.

I can’t drive.

I can’t live.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it. I have something. You

can’t see it. I don’t want to explain it. I want to be more than it. Sadly, I

can’t. I have generalized anxiety disorder.

I have nightmares.

I have medications.

I have panic attacks.

I have irritability.

I have irrational thoughts.

I have coping skills.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it. I have something. You

can’t see it. I don’t want to explain it. I want to be more than it. Sadly, I

can’t. I have generalized anxiety disorder. I am learning to accept and live with it.

I am breathing.

I am meditating.

I am using essential oils.

I am doing puzzles.

I am coloring.

I am journaling.

I am informing myself.

I am sharing my journey.

Hello, I am a person. I

don’t want your pity. I want your friendship. I need it. I have something. You

can’t see it. I don’t want to explain it. I want to be more than it. Sadly, I

can’t. I have generalized anxiety disorder. I am learning to accept and live

with it.

I need something from you:

support.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.

If you need support right now, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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