Verse 1 Wake up, chest tight, 4am and I’m drowning No water in my lungs but I’m still gasping, pounding Brain’s a riot, screaming through a locked door Every “what if” kicks harder than the one before Scrolling through my life like it’s evidence Judge and jury’s me, and I give no acquittal Cancel plans, blame the flu, blame the traffic Truth is I’m scared of my own static Pre-Chorus It’s 1000 voices and they all sound like mine Telling me I’m outta time, outta line, outta nine lives Tryna breathe but the air’s got teeth Chorus This anxiety’s a chokehold, it won’t let go Got my throat, got my soul, got me stole White knuckles on a steering wheel that I don’t control I’m sick from it, I’m sick, I’m sick from it Sweating through my shirt at 2pm for nothing Heart’s a war drum, but there’s no one coming This anxiety’s a chokehold, and I’m blue Begging my own body to get me through Verse 2 Room full of people, but I’m in a coffin Every laugh sounds like they caught me bluffing “Just calm down” — yeah, thanks for the cure Like telling a house fire to try cold water I rehearsed this convo ten times last night Still fucked it up, now I’ll replay it for life Meds on the nightstand, shame in the bottle ‘Cause taking ‘em feels like I lost the throttle Pre-Chorus It’s 1000 voices and they all sound like mine Telling me I’m outta time, outta line, outta nine lives Tryna breathe but the air’s got teeth Chorus This anxiety’s a chokehold, it won’t let go Got my throat, got my soul, got me stole White knuckles on a steering wheel that I don’t control I’m sick from it, I’m sick, I’m sick from it Sweating through my shirt at 2pm for nothing Heart’s a war drum, but there’s no one coming This anxiety’s a chokehold, and I’m blue Begging my own body to get me through Extended Bridge I counted ceiling tiles like they were rosaries 128 last night, zero answers for me Doctor said “it’s all in your head” like that’s a cure Yeah, it is. That’s the problem — it’s in there for sure I got rituals like religion, tap the door three times If I don’t, then the day implodes and it’s my crime I cancel birthdays, I ghost my friends Then hate myself for being alone again And the worst part? I look fine in photos Smile’s a loaded gun, but nobody notices High functioning, high heart rate, high alert Walking panic attack in a band tee shirt If my brain’s a house, then the pipes all burst And I’m bailing water with a coffee cup, rehearsed Every “you’re okay” just feels like a lie ‘Cause okay people don’t wish they could die Sometimes I wonder if I disappeared Would the quiet finally get in here? But I stay. I stay. I stay. Even when my chest’s grenade-pinned every day Breathe in. Hold. That’s a win. Do it again. Do it again. I’m not done yet, even if I’m bent Even if this chokehold’s 10 years spent Final Chorus This anxiety’s a chokehold, it won’t let go Got my throat, got my soul, got me stole White knuckles on a steering wheel that I don’t control I’m sick from it, I’m sick from it Sweating through my shirt at 2pm for nothing Heart’s a war drum, but there’s no one coming This anxiety’s a chokehold, and I’m blue Still begging my own body to get me through Outro I’m tired of fighting a ghost with my name Tired of losing a war for staying sane If you feel this too — I see you, same We’re not weak. We’re just bleeding in a cage
