Overwhelm

Feb 28, 2026

—

Bekah

in Poetry

Thoughts racing

that I can’t hold back

too much to do

too little time

Guilt. Anxiety. Fear.

I don’t do enough

I can’t be enough

I am not enough

I try to breathe.

My chest tightens.

I feel dizzy.

The room starts to spin.

I can’t catch my breath.

~~~~~

I try to remember

what I should do

to calm down

“focus on your breath”

I command myself

deep breath in

slow breath out

repeat repeat

again and again and again

gasp out a desperate prayer

“God help me!”

let the negative thoughts pass

they cannot determine my reality

it won’t always be this hard

I choose to be optimistic

I am not my anxiety

progress not perfection.

~~~~~

Why can’t I be normal?

What is it even LIKE to be normal?

I don’t even know

anxiety often rules me

How to be kind to myself?

and realistic with myself?

It is a struggle

a battle of the mind

I can’t give in to the imagined fears

I can’t let them overwhelm

I CAN BE ENOUGH

I can’t let them overwhelm me

I AM enough!

~~~~~

Comments

10 responses to “Overwhelm”

Sean Talbot

February 28, 2026

You are always enough, friend 🖖🏻

Reply
1. Bekah
  
  March 1, 2026
  
  Thank you friend. =)
  
  Reply
Branwen

February 28, 2026

I liked the pacing. It felt like a rhythm, almost like contractions to give birth to a new you. (Sorry, if that sounds too weird, lol)

Reply
1. Bekah
  
  March 1, 2026
  
  Thank you! And no, that definitely makes sense and I like that analogy! =)
  
  Reply
Marianne Ayers

February 28, 2026

Omg this poem is exactly how anxiety feels to me. I could feel the emotion coming off the page. You are enough! Anxiety is a painful emotion, but like all emotions, it eventually passes. When you’re in the thick of it though that’s so hard to believe. Thank you for writing this! I definitely feel seen.

Reply
1. Bekah
  
  March 1, 2026
  
  Thank you! <3 And yeah, thank goodness anxiety eventually passes. I’m glad to hear this poem helped you feel seen. =)
  
  Reply
Rob

February 28, 2026

“Progress not perfection” is like a mantra for when feeling like this. Beautiful stuff!

Reply
1. Bekah
  
  March 1, 2026
  
  Thank you! Yeah, one of my therapists actually told me to tell myself, “Progress not perfection,” when I was struggling with feeling overwhelmed.
  
  Reply
Veronica

March 1, 2026

Yep! Exactly!
This is so good!! I struggle with anxiety and this is it… even the trying to remember what to do to calm down…🫶

Reply
1. Bekah
  
  March 1, 2026
  
  Thank you! =) Sorry to hear you struggle with anxiety too. <3
  
  Reply

Overwhelm

Comments

10 responses to “Overwhelm”

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