Interlude

Hey all! A few things before we bounce back into our dashing adventure filled with laughs, gasps, and daring-do;

Thing One - This is rough stuff. It wasn't easy to go through, and I know it isn't peaches and cream to read. So thank you for sticking with me, despite that.

Thing Two - What do you say to someone who has gone through this? Hell if I know! None of you are shrinks (I think?) so you are all dissolved of the responsibility to say something meaningful/useful/heroic and life saving that'll make all of this go away. If you feel you want to show support, but have no idea how to do it, a simple "Love." or "<3" or "You go girl!" works wonders.

Thing Three - All names have been changed (except mine).

Thing Four - I will (and am) taking creative license, in an effort to show the truth as elegantly and poignantly as possible.

Thing Five - Most of these are memories. Some of them are actual journal entries I wrote at the time. I will rarely post a snapshot of what I'm going up against right this very second.

Thing Six - This is a story about the past few months. I'm writing it to set down who I am and what I've been through. For me, it's a set of directions; a roadmap that shows where I've been, so I can start to extrapolate where I'm going.

I'm posting it on the world wide internets for a couple of reasons:

1. When I mentioned I was writing this stuff down, one of my best friends said "I'd like to read it some day." Muffinsquire, it's all your fault.

2. There are SO MANY PEOPLE in the world who struggle with these sorts of problems. I'm not the last one you'll run into, believe me. I want to spread awareness of anxiety-related issues, because the fear of fear is the thing that'll kick your teeth into next Wednesday, no apologies.

3. Everybody needs more melodrama in their lives. ^_~

I am NOT looking for:

-pity

-validation of my innumerable merits

-psychoanalysis

-more pity

Thing Seven - I will announce updates via Facebook. They will follow the most whimsical schedule I can think of at the time.