A - Anxiety #AtoZChallenge

"In 0.2 miles, your destination is on the right", the GPS boomed, startling her out of her reverie.

She felt her breath quicken. When did she cross Andrew's Avenue? Was the signal green? She fumbled for her glasses on the passenger seat. Last few nights were short on sleep, and her eyes watered easily now. She regretted ever having committed to this thing. What was she thinking? 'Facing your fears' - who gives in to that kind of bullshit? She felt that familiar lump in her throat and remembered to breathe harder.

Deep breaths.

More deep breaths.

"Its okay if I do bad. It doesn't have to be my best. I am just starting out."

"But I want it to be my best."

"But you cannot. You are not so good at it."

"Oh! How can I not be. I am always good!"

"Isn't that why you joined in the first place? To improve? Don't weigh yourself down with your own expectations."

The war in her head waged on. She pulled on a mask of confidence, took another deep breath, and marched ahead.



           

*****

Thank you for dropping by :) The theme of my posts this year, for the A-Z challenge, is To Show, Not Tell. I hope I was able to take you on the character's anxious journey.

I decided to share some tips that I found useful when writing my posts. Needless to say, they are from various sources on the internet. I hope you will find them beneficial too.

Today's tip:

When describing a scene or a person, first jot down all the behaviors characteristic of this scene/character. For example, when I had to describe anxiety, I came up with pounding heart, mind creating vivid scenes of embarrassment, fidgeting hands, racing mind, sweaty palms. And then weave your words around these traits.