It comes from within

It lurks everywhere!

I lie sleeping in my bed, eyes closed, seemingly at peace when it creeps into my dreams.  Slipping, sliding, sinuously worming its way into my head, but I am strong.  I persevere.

Upon awakening I feel a sense of dread.  I know it's coming.  I don't know when, or where, or how, but I do know it is going to catch up with me at some point.

Locking my door, I head out to walk, hoping I can put enough distance between it and me, but every thought puts me perilously closer -- there seems to be no escaping it.

All through the day and into the night it hangs over me like a dark cloud, deadly in all its implications, until eventually. . .

I am lost.  It grabs me and the overeating gnaws away at my self esteem, erodes my sense of well being and becomes an overwhelming, self defeating nightmare.