From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“The Call of Life”

Things had been progressing well for Ansel but one morning he suddenly woke with a start, the familiar dread clawing at his chest. The intrusive thoughts, like relentless whispers, began to weave their dark tapestry. You're not good enough. Failure is inevitable.

He'd been trapped in this cycle for years, a prisoner of his own mind. But today was different. He'd made a vow, a promise to himself. No more hiding. No more letting fear dictate his life. No more allowing an unwelcome companion to occupy mind space rent free. He WILL answer the call of life and will awaken, arise and attack each day.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Mask of Tranquility”

Ansel continues to make progress in his everlong battle with intrusive thoughts. The combination of speaking to a trained professional, exposure therapy, positive thinking and better living through science (i.e. - medications) has progressively made Ansel more comfortable interacting in reality with the world around him.

As Ansel continues to understand the complexities of his brain with more clarity, he’s begun to realize he’s a card-carrying member of the “masking” club.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Change Your Place to Change Your Mind”

In order to achieve better mental health, and evict the unwelcome companion promoting intrusive thoughts in his head, Ansel has so far employed exposure therapy and positive self-talk.  As he has focused on more positive mental health, Ansel stumbled upon the psychological adage of, “change your place to change your mind” which suggests physical surroundings can significantly influence behaviors, thoughts and feelings.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Poetry of Positive Language”

Ansel has always been a worrier, ruminating over potential disasters, fearing the worst-case scenario in every situation.

As he’s grown more comfortable through self-imposed exposure therapy, Ansel has decided he cannot let his anxiety control him anymore. In his quest to build a toolbox of coping mechanisms he has discovered the power of positive self-talk. 

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Exposure Therapy”

As Ansel acquires more confidence that he possesses the ability to cognitively change his own mind, he begins to soften on the idea of embarking on a journey of exposure therapy.

He begins with a series of relaxation techniques. Ansel develops an understanding of deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery as ways to manage his ongoing and persistent anxiety responses. As he builds a solid foundation of relaxation skills, Ansel will seek out the gradual exposure component of the therapy.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Driving Toward Light”

As an initial step to control or at least cohabitate with his unwelcome companion, Ansel regularly tries to cognitively transition his internal dialog away from the dark, irrational nature of his catastrophic and anxiety riddled thoughts. He must consciously convince his mind to take a mental passage away from the colorless abyss towards the bright hope of light.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Terrified by the Shades of Night”

The descent into sleep for most is a gradual and gentle slope, but for Ansel, it's the treacherous face of a cliff. He teeters on the edge, eyelids heavy, desperately craving rest, but the shadows at the periphery of his vision twist and writhe, morphing into monstrous shapes the moment he closes his eyes.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Mayor of Despair”

Ansel is often a prisoner in his own mind, and proclaims himself as the "Mayor of Despair." He finds it hard to venture outside of his physical comfort area because for him the outside world is a terrifying jungle of potential risks and missteps. He generally spends his days in a chaotic dance of checking, rechecking, and placating the unwelcome companion living rent free in his head.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Unwelcome Companion”

Ansel’s constant “unwelcome companion” seems to have a voice originating from nowhere and everywhere at once. His companion isn’t a murderous conscience, but a relentless monsoon of intrusive thoughts.

From the series: A Highway of Intrusive Thoughts

“Dark Clouds on Sunny Days”

The following is a description of Ansel’s fictional location. One can be left to wonder if Shadowbrook exists in reality or just in our protagonist’s mind.