Anxiety and the Artist's Date

My earliest memories are anxious ones. 

Clinging to my mum’s legs as a child. Hiding under a laundry basket when people popped in. Waking up at 5 AM, putting on my school uniform, and sitting there for three hours—because I was terrified of being late. 

For most of my life, anxiety was my default state. 

And then last year, driving from Milan to Umbria, Matteo and I were listening to a podcast about anxiety when he paused it and asked—How is your anxiety?

To my surprise, I said, Good. I hadn’t felt anxious in ages. 

We both sat in silence, a little stunned. 

Where did my anxiety go?

I’ve been sitting with that question for months. And recently, as I felt anxiety creeping back in, I realised—there’s one thing that helps me most.

This week, Matteo and I talk about: 

• The unexpected weight of moving home
• My life with anxiety
• The turning point that forced me to make a change
• And the ritual that’s helping me feel more at ease (and could help you, too)

The One Word Journal: https://www.myword.is/book

Between The Lines Newsletter: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/