It can be hard to explain how anxiety feels, as anyone who has ever suffered from the condition will know.
The NHS describes it as “a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe”, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach to defining the condition.
After all, people experience anxiety in different ways, and the condition itself can range from generalised anxiety disorder to more specific issues, such as panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Despite this, one woman has managed to write a letter that almost perfectly sums up the vast sum of most people’s experiences of anxiety.
The letter begins by addressing the “man whose wife or partner has anxiety”, before going on to state “there are things you should know” when helping someone to cope with anxiety.
“Anxiety isn’t a one size fits all, it isn’t consistent and it isn’t always easy to tell,” Mazza writes.
“You might think she’s just snapped at you, but it was anxiety that did it, you might think she’s angry, but it's the anxiety that's got a chokehold, you might think she’s not enjoying herself when you go out and it’s your fault, but it’s not. It’s anxiety.”
She goes on to describe how anxiety can feel like a “freight train” of thoughts that never ends.
“You know how she can’t understand when she asks you what are you thinking, why you would respond with ‘nothing’... it’s because she never thinks nothing,” she writes.
“Her thoughts replay like a freight train in her head full steam ahead, over and over. It’s exhausting for her. It’s why she’s tired. There isn’t a day that goes by where she doesn’t think.
“She thinks about everything, and usually it is the worst case scenario. She worries that something will go wrong. That some days if she leaves the house, something will happen. Kidnapping, deaths, falls, cars spinning out of control, that's why she can’t just leave the house or just go out, even though you've suggested it with good intentions.”
Mazza continues the letter by explaining the ways a partner can help, down to easing the pressure with simple things like holding their hand.
“You can see what gets too much for her, the crowds of people or bed time, dinner time, see it and help her by holding her hand and tell her you’re with her. Do it with her, take over, tell her to sit down for a while and breathe…
“If you see her struggling with appointments, reschedule them for her, encourage her to take it slowly. Too much is overwhelming for her, even though she has good intentions. Don’t make her feel bad for missing an appointment, a party, whatever. She wanted to go, but she couldn’t. She already feels bad. Tells her it’s okay.”
She adds that “not every day will be bad, and those days should be celebrated, but on the bad days, still celebrate her, because she needs it.
“Forever and ever, you just to need take her hand and tell her, ‘I am with you’.”