I have struggled with severe anxiety for as long as I can remember. It is not just worrying — it is a constant, paralyzing fear that something terrible is about to happen. I am tired of being held hostage by my own mind. It affects everything. I have turned down job opportunities because the interviews terrified me. I have missed weddings, birthdays, and graduations because the thought of being in a crowd made me physically ill. I have lain awake at three in the morning with my heart pounding, convinced I am dying, only to be told by the emergency room doctor that it is another panic attack. I am in therapy. I take medication. I practice breathing exercises and mindfulness and all the things the books tell you to do. Some days they help. Other days the anxiety laughs at my coping mechanisms and takes over anyway. The loneliest part is that people do not understand. They tell me to just relax, as if I have never thought of that. They tell me to think positive, as if my brain chemistry responds to motivational posters. They mean well, but their words often make me feel more broken, not less. I am asking for prayers for everyone who fights this invisible battle daily. Pray for peace that surpasses understanding. Pray for effective treatment. Pray for loved ones to have patience. And pray for the day when my mind is finally quiet enough to hear the still small voice that says, Do not be afraid.