How is an anxiety attack like a haunted house? One poet will tell you.

This article originally appeared on 10.23.15

Getting people who don’t suffer from anxiety issues to understand them is hard.

People have tried countless metaphors and methods to describe what panic and anxiety is like. But putting it into the context of a living nightmare, haunted house style, is one of the more effective ways I’ve ever seen it done.

Brenna Twohy delivered the riveting poetic analogy recently in Oakland, starting out by going off about some funny “Goosebumps” plots. It’s lovely, funny, sweet, and relatable, and it’s totally worth the short time to watch.

Here are some of the quick highlights:

Just like an R.L. Stine book, anxiety can play tricks on your mind.

Panic is a poltergeist.

“When I tell you that panic is a stubborn phantom, that she will grab onto me and not let go for months.”

And the truth of how hard it can be to find someone who wants to sign up for your baggage.

When curious people try to show interest in your haunted head, it can seem more like voyeurism.

“When you say ‘tell me about the bad days’ it sounds like all the neighborhood kids daring each other to ring the doorbell.”

But there’s more where that came from, and she ends on a hopeful note. She’s really pretty brilliant.

Feeling like she nailed it? Your friends may appreciate her take on it, too.