Photos taken by contributor Annie, a woman who lives with PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, and Dissociation. Annie copes by writing, drawing, reading, meditating, walking when able, and brushing her cat Rumi. She loves photography and feels music is very soothing.

About these photos: “Stairs! They are very formidable for me. Going up, is one thing, but the very idea of descending, the thought of falling…again is simply too much. Fear of stairs due to balance issues, fear of heights, fear of a shove or a push that could send me into the depths. I have been pushed but it wasn’t down stairs, I have fallen countless times. What is it about stairs? The pattern, the illusion ~ disillusion? So, what’s the alternative?”