People talk of the Black Dog of Depression, ever loyal, hounding their steps.
People talk of the Bluebird of Happiness, who soars over rainbows and white cliffs.
But they don’t talk of the Others…
The Black Dog’s friends, hunting, blotting out the Bluebird in a blood red eclipse.

There is the Squirrel of Anxiety, flickering, flitting, flurrying, whittling. The continual motion of internal commotion that cannot stop, or… what?
The Cheetah of Sadness, whose tears start thunderously fast for no reason, and run black mascara races down shrunken, fading faces.
The Sloth of Exhaustion, wading slowly through treacle, retreating, into un-replenishing oblivion.
The bleating, belligerent Goat of Distortion, looking at the round world through strange square pupils, out of sync, on the eternal brink of dissonance.
The Beaver of Unrelenting Standards, one who is never done, has never achieved enough, damned soul ever searching for the perfect log to block an endless hole.
The sly Snake of Negativity, whispering insssssssideously of temptation and failure, a demagogue squeezing out breath.
The Hippo of Hypochondria sweating hot pink, promising death.
The Bee of Brain Fog, buzzing so loud it can’t hear itself think.
The Goldfish of Amnesia, who can’t hold onto a thought, losing time, all circles and no straight lines.
The Owl of Insomnia, mind spinning like it’s head on it’s shoulders, pining for sleep, but orange eyes wide.
The Parrot of Social Awkwardness, who tried and tries, but says the wrong thing, shrill, brittle, and always dressed a little too brightly.
The unsightly Amoeba of Guilt, constantly multiplying, vying for space, tightly packed and leaving no room for much else.
The Rhino of Impending Doom, always charging, bearing down in panic, expecting extinction – a unicorn in disguise in whose eyes shines fear – and disappointment.
The Platypus of Disjointment.
The striped Tiger of Overwhelm, stalking up on silent feet, and pouncing in a flurry of claws.
The Chicken of Obsession, pecking, on repeat, a constant tic, a beat that drum-sticks to a desperate routine… Fowl laws on a loop in a coop.
The Aardvark of Self Absorption, who can’t see beyond its own nose.
The Zebra of Self Doubt, a poorly disguised imposter who fears to be exposed.
The Tortoise of the Impossible Task, who is too paralysed to start and can’t see the finish, and loses heart and withdraws into its shell.
The Jellyfish of Indecision, a brainless bell with entrails, half invisible – pale even to itself – wibbling over everything.
The bone-tired Meerkat of Vigilance, who must always look out for the Rhino of Doom.
The Angler Fish of Anger, erupting from the gloom, the same tame Squirrel of Anxiety turned prehistoric, apoplectic, all teeth and fury. And beneath its own light, it sees its gory ugliness, and retreats in disgust.
And then must enter the Elephant of Shame and Regret, who can never forget, or forgive itself.
The Ostrich of Avoidance, burying its head.
The quivering Greyhound of Dread.
The rippling, crippling, famous Ray of Hope, hiding its smile underneath, but always, always with a sting in its tail. For there is no plain sailing here.

This is not just the bark of the morose Black Dog. Depression is a Zoo.
It is a gross, earsplitting roar, and a squawk, and a flap and a snap, and a hiss and a splash and shriek –
And if YOU are the keeper trying to keep these wild beasts at bay, behind bars and in tanks and shut away, struggling to contain and maintain them, you have your work cut out.
And that’s why they say, don’t feed the animals.
Whatever you do, if you want to survive don’t let them out. They will eat you alive.
And in this Zoo, they visit you.

Hi. Have you ever been visited by the Tiger of Overwhelm? Perhaps you know the Rhino of Impending Doom? How about the Chicken of Obsession (a personal favourite)?

It’s the week of #BlueMonday and lots of people have these visitors. If you’ve got one I’ve not mentioned, please do add it into the comments! I’d love to add to the menagerie.

In the meantime, please share. It could help someone with their Zoo… Or help them explain what it looks like to someone who doesn’t have one.