Anxiety feels like that moment you're about to fall backwards in a chair. Only it lasts longer. And occurs almost every day.

"To love me is to love a haunted house. It's fun to visit once a year but no one wants to live there."

"To love me is to love a haunted house...no one wants to live there."

"when you say 'tell me about the bad days,' sounds like all the neighborhood kids daring each other to ring the doorbell" damn. i felt that so hard.

"Darling, this love will not cure me." so powerful

"That my anxiety is a camera that shows everyone I love as bones" SO true. Well said.

How are these people clapping, I'm sitting here breathless trying to compose myself because I felt it so much

"When you say to the ghost, 'If you're staying, then you better make room'." -this kills me

This made me cry. Living with anxiety is incredibly hard, and explaining it to others can be impossible. This was beautifully written. Thank you for this.

We have got to talk about the kids in all those Goosebumps books. For example, if your family vacation is to an amusement park called Horrorland, and your station wagon explodes in the parking lot upon arrival, maybe shrugging it off, buying an extra-large popcorn and heading directly to the Deadly Doom Slide is not your best possible course of action. Or, if you steal a weird camera from your creepy neighbour's basement and all the pictures you take show bad things happening, like decapitation and also tofurkey. Stop. Taking. Pictures.Or, if you move into your ne house and there's a bunch of small children already living in your bedroom that your parents can't see, maybe don't just grab a juice box and go to play in the cemetery that is in your backyard. Or, when I tell you I have a cemetery in my backyard, and in my front yard, and in my bedroom, when I tell you that trauma is a steep slide you cannot see the bottom of, that my anxiety is a camera that shows everyone I love as bones, when I tell you that panic is a stubborn phantom, that she will grab onto me and not let go for months, this is the part of the story where everyone is telling you to run. To love me is to love a haunted house. It's fun to visit once a year, but no one wants to live there. And when you say, "Tell me about the bad days," it sounds like all the neighbourhood kids daring each other tp ring the doorbell. And you love me like the family walking through Horrorland holding hands. You are not stupid, or careless, or even brave. You've just never seen the close-up of a haunting. Darling, this love will not cure me. This love will not scrape the blood from the baseboards, but it will turn all the lights on. It will bring basil back from the Farmer's Market and it will plant it in every windowsill. It is the kind of love that gives me goosebumps. When you say to the ghost, "If you're staying, then you'd better make room," and we kiss against the walls that, tonight, are not shaking, so we turn the music up, and we dance to Miles Davis, and you say, "My god. This house. The way that it stands even in the months that no one goes into or comes out of it." How reckless. The way that I love, like the first chapter of a ghost story, like a gentle hand reaching out of a grave.

I was loudly sobbing by the end of this. I have severe anxiety and I have always had this tragic character flaw of assuming I'm unlovable. Well, for the first time I finally found someone who truly loves my haunted house and you cannot begin to imagine how much I related to this poem. As soon as I came I will be showing him this. ❤️

her little stutter near the end

"and when you say 'tell me about the bad days' it sounds like all the neighbourhood kids daring each other to ring the doorbell."

She kills it every fucking time

My Anxiety is like a person. Comes with traits and bad things. Mine is bland. It's has black hair with a fringe. Gauges. A white shirt. Black jeans. Dark blue eyes. Anxiety is like a bully. It may not always talk to you but will pop up at random moments ruining your day. Anxiety is like a judgemental person making you question every little thing you do. Anxiety is like a child calling you names, but not knowing it hurts. Anxiety is like a friend. Like on who helps you decide your hair, makeup and clothes. Anxiety is a person who doesn't leave you alone. Anxiety is like s car. But yours the scratching post

"anxiety is a camera that shows everyone I love as bones" wow

Ironically enough, this performance makes me love her more. 'To love me is to love a haunted house' goddamn 😦😍

Does anyone else think there needs to be a website like Rap Genius but for poems?

This made me cry. I just found these Button Poetry videos and I love them. They are so empowering. Most of all they can help those who might not understand the struggle that people who suffer from anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders, and any other type of mental illness face every minute of every day. Maybe these videos will open the eyes of the people who do not believe these disorders are illnesses but simply problems that we have created ourselves in order to get attention and to have people feel sorry for us. Having anxiety is not just being nervous and having depression isn't just being sad. They are things that can control your entire life. I wish mental illness was just a made up thing but it's not.

"The kind of Love that gives me Goosebumps" My favorite line. Gets me every time.

If this had been me reciting poetry in front of an audience, I'd have gone crazy with anxiety. I'm glad she was able to do it.

Your love won't cure me but your hate is killing me.

I teared up a bit. I can relate so much and I just. Thank you for putting it into words.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1">0:01</a> to <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="192">3:12</a> are my favorite part.

I had been watching another slam poetry performance before this appeared in my recommended videos, and after watching this I cannot understand how is it that this performance hasn't gotten so (so) many more views. I feel like so many people would be able to relate to this. The title caught my attention because "anxiety" and as a person who has to force herself to sleep at night in order to avoid my own ghosts and demons, I felt inclined to check this video out. And it was so, so worth it. This video everyone - this video, with every sentence she said, I mumbled "it's me. she's like me." and it's so /so/ good to have someone talk about something that you yourself cannot put into words. "To love me is to love a haunted house." this is the line that got me completely hooked. Don't get me wrong, I was hooked from the start because every time I watch a "horror" movie I find the excessive need to shout at the characters to tell them that they should /not/ pick up the god damn haunted camera, that they should /not/ go into that freaky creepy haunted house ALONE - but that line, that's the one that made me shiver because it shook me to the core, it got to me so strongly. And then, near the end, "And we dance to Miles Davis." repeated twice - that was it, that was the part where I started letting out some tears because damn, she gets it.

I have been coming back to this poem for 5 years now and it has never disappointed

I came across this immediately after having a panic attack having to do with my own paranoia about my relationship with my boyfriend. He was fantastic about the whole thing, and shout out to the lovers like him who basically say,"Fuck you anxiety, I love her/him more". Thank you for letting me feel through this. "When you say to the ghosts 'if you're staying, then you better make room'"

I love Brenna Twohy

"walls that tonight are not shaking"

I knew this was going to make me cry, and yep success. These are words I never knew I needed and now want to memorize.

This starts so simple and funny and it's like "oh yeah, what a nice light poem" and then there's just a slide down in tone that just keeps going down further and aawwwwww man you tricked me into FEELING SO MANY THINGS! That was amazing!

Wow, just wow. This is such an amazing work. Something that can seem impossible to explain to those who wish to love you, yet she handled it so beautifully. Thank you so much Brenna.

This has got to be the eighth time i've watched this and I have yet to find a poem that sends shivers down my spine as much of this one. It just explains exactly how i feel. What a genius. What an artist.

This is one of the most beautiful poems I've ever heard. As a writer I am inspired by it. And as a person living with anxiety disorder it speaks to me like almost nothing else has in my life. Thank you Brenna, thank you so much.

When she says darling, that melt my heart~

This one always gets me. Many times I've listened to it thinking im good. But every time I feel the break and I cry it shows me I still have more work to do. I will forever love this poem though

I have been searching for this for a long time!!! Just her voice amd the way she says "To Love Me"

I'm in tears. This needed to be said. I suffer from anxiety myself and this really hits hard.

Brenna Twohy has always had the most inspiring words. I can never remember not loving the sound of her voice and her words.

Ugh Brenna I feel a peace in my heart after listening to your poem. I know there's so many other people out there with anxiety, but sometimes I feel like I'm alone, that I'm the only one who feels trapped in their own body. Everyone else seems "normal" to me and I feel like I try so hard to keep myself together most of the time. For me, it feels as though I'm physically here but mentally stuck with the traumatized mind & negative emotions of my childhood self. You meant to show me the inside of yourself, & I felt like it was written about me. Listening to this poem felt like someone is stuck inside the haunted house with me. How we look at our life is very sad, I would not wish this on anyone. Thank you for sharing & here's to hoping one day we'll be free

I have no words. Everything about this sure hits home.

Brought me to tears .... Anxiety is so very difficult to explain to people who have never experienced it and this has done a wonderful job . Thank You .

Caught in chaotic silence Certainly uncertain Uncomfortably comfortable Stuck in a cycle of meaninglessness Void of character Stripped of soul Trying to communicate Desperate not to convey The state of dismay Alone... Yearning for existence I'm...i'm I can't breathe I'm gagged by a sentence A.. A word " anxiety" My debilitating flaw Exposed by society I am bare I'm.... i'm... Please look away I have nothing to say I'm just an imaginary figment A skeleton with a pigment Lower you gaze Don't utter a word Don't overwhelm me with a phrase I... I need to Figure something out Hold that goddamn phone Pretend to type Plug them in Get into that hype Listen to marley That heavenly floyd Forget yourself All by yourself The worst lie i tell myself Is " believe in yourself " Be who you are Nobody's perfect Go on, go on It's not that far I'm just a step away Wait..wait Stop I I can't

her delivery is phenomenal. her voice too. goodness. this poem is brilliant.

this poem still hits me hard. anxiety is so hard to explain to people who dont struggle with it like i do and this did it beautifully.

This is one of the most beautiful poems I've ever heard.

This is my favorite. I love the way she performs, and oh the words 😍

This blew me away, I've got shivers.

I'm crying and I have goosebumps.. why does my life have to relate to this so much

Brenna Twohy. That poem, Anxiety A Ghost Story was brilliant. I live with anxiety, depression, and sex addiction. Your poem was just inspirational as hell. I live that life and its chaotic. Thank you thank you thank you!!! Don't stop doing what you do!

THIS. 💕💕💕💕 In tears. Wow, wish I could like more than once.

this is my favourite poem ever i relate so hard i understand exactly what she means

Her poems are always amazing

‘This love will not cure me but it will turn all the lights on’ ❤️❤️❤️

I thought this was kinda silly to begin with, but then the stuff about the camera and love turning all the lights on. Wow - I totally relate. I'm watching it again.

I am breathless.... this is wow.... wow.

I love Brenna so much.

I’ve got chills. I felt this on every level

I'm going to cry. I get anxiety and I feel like a burden to people all the time. This poem hit so close to home. So much love.

I've never heard Brenna before this ... wow she is amazing! I think one of the reasons I love dark fiction and horror... especially the kids stuff, is because it gives me some sense of control and makes it fun and endurable... I can close a book or turn off the TV and the "horror" is over. I guess I wish controlling the ghost of anxiety without hiding in fear was as easy.

I broke down in tears through half...

I love this poem. It is very relatable and true to how I feel everyday.

I love the way she connected it all

I resonant with this.

breathtakingly flawless

I've read all those Goosebumps. I have SAD and GAD and PTSD. I love her.

her poetry is the best

Beautiful.

I love this so much

I was shaking listening to this. So spot on it was scary. Amazing work, dear.

so dope..she killed it!!!

Speechless

Such a beautiful poem, I love her poetry 🌻

You have an absolutely stunning structure to your poem, Brenna Twohy. Thank you for sharing :)

She had such a beautifully smooth transition from describing the horror movies, to making it about her anxiety ❤️

I love that she says can not and do not. It makes her voice sound even better and more emphasis on what she's saying.

I love this so much this piece is so heartfelt and inspirational as well as relatable she is an inspiration and an amazing woman keep writing this piece is outstanding.💕

I'm sobbing.. Wow.

"this house the way it stands even when no own is going into it or out of it"

i've never loved a poem as much as this one.

I cried, because it's the first time someone can describe something that feels haunting, so beautifully

Beautiful and sublime, thank you Brenna

jeez i love this girl.

I love brenna, ugh this is perfect. so beautiful

I love it! This explains me SO MUCH!

tour poem made me cry. Great Job!

This woman is ttooooooo gooooood !!!!

This honestly made me cry

I'm speechless. Amazing. x

This is it. The best thing I've heard today.

Definitely my favorite so far.

It changed so much, so fast. It started with laughs, and got so deep and dark, and the audience was dead silent. That moment meant something extraordinary.

"when you say tell me about the bad days; sounds like all the neighbor children daring to ring the doorbell" "you are not stupid or careless or even brave; you've just never seen the close up of a haunting. Darling, this love will not cure me. This love will not scrape the blood from the baseboards, but it will turn all the lights on.. The kind of love that gives you goosebumps"

I love poetry about mental health because it brings conversations that need to happen and then you realize that you are not as alone as you thought and that there are people who truly understand

Nailed it. I've struggled with crippling anxiety for a few years, and I wish I could find a way to explain it to others. There's no way I could do something like this because I'd probably just end up dry heaving into a microphone for three minutes.

So powerful

This hits me in so many levels.

I love this. So true.

this always makes me a little teary.

This is so beautiful