Jan. 7, 2024

I’ve had this song in my head all day. Not stuck in my head, though. “Stuck” implies wanting it to get out, and as far as I’m concerned, this song from Bright Eyes’ 2007 album, Cassadega, can stick around as long as it wants.

Anxiety has unfortunately been a constant companion to me since I was 10 or so. I don’t know what happened to make it so, but I’ve dealt with it every day since.

This song resonates heavily on days when my brain is preoccupied with and wallowing in what might be, allowing anxiety to rule the roost even though I know damn well that most of what I worry about never happens.

It’s important on those days to seek out the titular brakeman to help slow things down before I go completely off the rails.

When panic grips your body and your heart is a hummingbird
Raven thoughts blacken your mind until you’re breathing in reverse
All your friends and sedatives mean well, but make it worse
Every reassurance just magnifies the doubt
Better find yourself a place to level out