{Winning entry for ChickLit's #MindOverMatter Contest 2017} rip·tide /ˈriptīd/ noun a strong current caused by tidal flow in confined areas such as inlets and presenting a hazard to swimmers and boaters. I am confined within the inlet of my brain. But I will not get lost in the riptide of my mind. ~My entry for Wattpad's Mind Over Matter Contest~

Anxiety appears in different forms for different people. Mine was a shoulder sprite who ate my grades.

Hi, I am Anna and this is just a glimpse of what my life has been like for the past several months. I hope that my ongoing story helps you, along with some of the tips I use everyday. Disclaimer: I didn't include this in the story because it isn't the purpose. I have Hashimoto's, an auto-immune disease where the immune system attacks your thyroid. I cannot describe this perfectly, but basically it messes up my hormones and so many other factors that played a role in my anxiety. I was never really diagnosed by a doctor but the symptoms were there for my anxiety and depression. My naturopath has helped me with natural supplements and techniques for the past few months. There is so much more to this but I can't describe it all on here. I understand how sensitive this topic is and that there are people who are still suffering, that have been diagnosed and are in need of help. I just wanted to make this a bit clearer so hopefully it won't offend anyone. Thank you :) (Placed in Top Ten of #MindOverMatterContest)

Placed in Top 10 in the #MindOverMatterContest Highest Place in Poetry: #627, 2/14/2018 To put it simply, this is my story, told in lyrics and poems, of how I discovered and conquered my inner demons.

(A personal piece chosen to be in the top 10 for the Mind Over Matter Contest) Please don't hesitate to view my other works as well as request a cover from my cover book! :) The world thrives on pain. It is never about the happy ending, the prize, reward or the success. Life is about the journey. How we got there, what we had to endure. It's about the pain we all feel. The pain that pushes us forward but can also throw us so far back in our progress. At least, that's how I see it. You can't have happiness without sadness or success without failure. I thought my life was perfect, glorious, spotless. I was content with myself and the future that I was producing. That was all before everything changed. I became tired, confused, lonely and the only thing I could truly blame was my own head, my own thoughts. I had to learn the true meaning of being myself and how to want to live again. The thoughts in my head, constantly manipulating me, insulting me, tearing me apart slowly and fading out all of my originality, were relentless. This 500 word piece shows my struggle, my failure, my regret but also, describes my success, my future, and my happiness. I could not be where I am now without this hardship, without learning how to make the voices hush.

Maybe checking really isn't that bad after all. Contest submission for To The Bone by Netflix. Copyright © 2017 by SmokingxDaisies