Peggy Stewart’s poem ‘Mysterious Pain’ depicts anxiety and panic attacks. The author compares the unprovoked and unpredictable terror associated with a panic attack to a mysterious pain that she cannot explain. Stewart highlights both the physical aspects of the panic attack, as her body trembles in fear, as well as the psychological feeling of impending doom.

Mysterious Pain

With her head hung low
and nowhere to go

She can’t explain
this mysterious pain

It comes on so fast
How long will it last

Her heart is just pounding, her head starts to spin
Please go away, she does not want you in

She’s uncontrollably crying
It feels like she’s dying

Her body is trembling, her hands start to shake
She feels so helpless with this horrible ache

Someone, please help her, make this go away
She can’t stand to feel this way one more day

Someone, please help her, she’s down on her knees
She’s scared and helpless and hopes no one sees

With her head hung low
not knowing where to go

She tries to explain
This mysterious pain

Image Credit
Feature: Cristian Newman at unsplash, Creative Commons