Melissa Osburg Art

05.05.2019

Melissa Osburg Art

by Melissa Osburg

I have suffered with anxiety since I was a child. It has come and gone until approximately three years ago when it rocked my entire world. This disease came out of nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks. The irrational fears that would cycle in my brain are uncontrollable. My anxiety and panic attacks started running my life, I did not want to leave the comfort of my own home for the fear of having a panic attack in public. This may sound crazy or it may sound awfully similar to most of you. I have experienced countless times of panic attacks in a public place shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, you name it. Oh and worse .. driving. It definitely does not discriminate.

The feeling of “doom“ actually losing my mind, my whole body was going from 0 to 100 in seconds. The hot flashes that surged through my body, the sweating, the dizziness, and the rapid heartbeat; the fun joys of anxiety attacks. Oh, just make it stop! You feel like you’re dying. Literally dying. It was so bad at one point I didn’t want to get out of bed and that is where my depression kicked in. The feeling sorry for myself, the sadness, oh just make it go away that’s all I would say. Until one day I said no more I decided to teach myself how to paint. I needed a distraction! If my brain is distracted I can cope better ... now don’t get me wrong I have bad days still as of the last three weeks I have struggled tremendously, but I know there is hope because I have overcome it once before. My anxiety is not gone but I’m able to cope much better with the feelings that are inside of my head. I have recently created my anxiety awareness art series to share how I feel on a daily basis, my struggle and through this piece of art I hope others can realize that they are not alone and we need to break the stigma!

For every piece of art in the series that sells I will donate 15% to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.