LORYANN
LORYANN’s “My Anxiety” paints a vivid picture of what it’s like to be in a brain that’s filled with panic. The song reiterates the physical and emotional sensations of being anxious with stark imagery to the extent that listeners almost experience tension themselves. LORYANN describes a pounding head and clenched teeth, which gives a strong sense of exhaustion and prolonged emotional burden.”. The notion of being thrust into the background mirrors the way worry can make an individual feel helpless and invisible.
The song delves into how trauma that happened in the past is still stored in the body, causing pain and tears to escalate into fears. This escalation of emotions over time demonstrates anxiety is not just momentary but often built from moments in the past. LORYANN sings about not feeling in control, like something stronger is taking over her life. With words that depict chasing and possessing, anxiety takes on a monster-like shape, something that frightens her on a daily basis.
During the entire song, repeating feeling its claws and picturing it in your head and always reminds us that anxiety is always present. LORYANN doesn’t just reference anxiety; she makes it seem real, stalking her and waiting to pounce. This makes the emotional struggle readily comprehensible and extremely relatable for any individual who has found themselves trapped within their own head.
The chain reaction of her mind and seeping into the veins of hers highlight the panic that is building up within her to a point where she is nearing madness. The imagery of being chased is continuous, highlighting the futility of flight. But even in the midst of such pure terror, the rhythm and chanting aspects of the song, especially the “da-da-da” phrases, induce an incongruity that is frantic-sounding as well as energetic, akin to a panic attack with adrenalin.
Defining anxiety as the “mother of my misery” and an entity that paralyzes her sanity indicates just how controlling it is of her. However, by labeling it and articulating it in the song, LORYANN claims her struggle and turns it into something powerful and articulate.
The lyricism of “My Anxiety” is noteworthy for its raw honesty, sheer emotion, and ability to take inner turmoil and express it in a way that others can feel, understand, and even dance to.