Authors Note: Sorry about the wait. Life was being silly lol. So as usual I don't own anything in bold or the characters. I am female not male lol. I have loved reading the reviews as I get them. They keep me inspired to write more so keep them comming. I know alot of people have been wanting this one including me. I still haven't decided whether or not I want to include the Sander Aside episodes as well so let me know your opinions. Lets get started.
Accepting Anxiety Part 2: Can Anxiety Be Good?
Before the next episode could start a flash of light appeared startling young Virgil who snuggle his face into Patton's shirt. Out of this light dawnlilypotter appeared again.
"Sorry little Virgil" she said smiling at the small child side.
"Hi Dawn, what can we do for you?" asked Thomas.
"Well I need Virgil to be his adult self for this episode. So I am going to force the change to reverse. This will have the side affect that he will spend the entire first break as a small child." She answered.
"Oh, um, ok" Thomas said looking to his youngest side.
Dawnlilypotter waved her hand and Virgil changed into his adult self.
"Uh, What?" Virgil looked around finding himself on Patton's lap before blushing when the memories of his time regressed flooded threw his brain.
"It's ok Virge" Patton smiled at his kiddo.
Virgil slid off of Patton and climbed into his own chair. But not before muttering his thanks to Patton.
"Ok well enjoy this next episode" dawnlilypotter smiled before flashing away.
"So you regress often Virgil?" asked Thomas.
"Um not really I hadn't had one of those in months" Virgil answered.
"Oh, well we should probably continue" Thomas said.
"Yep" Virgil said looking straight at the screen avoiding the curious eyes of those around him.
The screen flickered to life.
Voice: Previously on Sanders Sides..
Thomas: Ahhh- I didn't cut together any footage for this.
Roman: Ugh, it's fine. I'll just perform the review myself so... Thomas started the video and was acting like an aloof moron with no filter and Logic was like "What's up?" Then, Morality and I showed up, and we were like, "What's up?" Then, we realized Anxiety wasn't here and Thomas didn't have any anxiety at all and I was like, "That's not a bad thing because I'm the dreamer." But the other two were like, "We need him or whatever.." So we were like, "Where is he?" Then we deduced that he was probably in the corner of Thomas' mind where Anxiety resides or "Anxiety's room." So we all journeyed there together to find him. Does that make sense?
"Wait yous went to my room?!" Virgil asked panicked.
"Yeah, why?" Thomas asked confused of Virgils reaction.
"And you guys let him? You guys should know better!" Virgil said turning to the light sides.
The three sides look embarrassed.
"What? Why is that a bad thing?" Thomas asked.
"Sides can't spend to long in each others rooms because every room affects different side differently. My room would probably corrupt the other sides in order to make you more anxious" Virgil answered looking towards his host.
"Oh" Thomas said. Thomas's friends were shocked.
There was an awkard silence for a minute then the screen started up again.
Logan: Yeah, or you know... you could just click here and watch the previous video.
Everyone laughed at that.
Patton: And that's what you missed on me!
Everyone laughed again.
Thomas: Whoa.. I knew I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque.
Logan: You made that joke in the last video.
Thomas: I know.. It was just to re-establish where we are in the present timeline. Wow... So, this is Anxiety's room... His room sure looks a lot like my living room.. Like, what is this, the upside down world or something?
Logan: No, the room just varies based on whatever your present location is.
"That's pretty cool" Joan said.
Everyone else agreed.
Thomas: One of the darker corners of my mind, the source of all my worries and fears, and-
Logan: Nightmare before Christmas.
Thomas: Yeah, it does not get that dark.
"Your such a dork sometimes Thomas" Terence laughed.
"That clock in the background is pretty cool" Talyn smiled. Everyone ooed when they noticed it.
Roman: Oh. I love that.
Patton: Spiders!
Patton shuddered.
Logan: No need to worry, Patton. That is just the.. pattern on the curtains.
Patton: I am terribly afraid of spiders.. I would like to trade places with someone.
Logan: This room is literally covered in spider webs and yet, the curtains unsettle you?
Patton: Well, I literally don't see any spiders in those, Logan. These curtains are literally covered in them.
"Poor Patton" Talyn cooed.
Roman: Those are just silly cartoons, they're not even realistic. But if need be, I will destroy them for you, Patton.
Patton: Thanks, but let's call them what they are, Roman.
Roman: Spider curtain-
Patton: Creepy crawly death dealers.
Everyone laughed.
"I'm calling them that for now on" Joan laughed.
Roman: Okay..
Thomas: Alright, but, like, if this is his room... Where is Anxi-
Anxiety: What are you doing in my room?!
*Thomas screams*
*Logan screams*
*Roman screams an extremely high-pitched scream*
Patton: Ahh, I think one of them moved!
Everyone laughed. Though Virgil shifted uncomfortably at the fact that most of them had screamed upon his entry.
Thomas: Anxiety? Oh, my goodness. I'm so happy to see you. That's weird?
Anxiety: You literally all just screamed in unison upon seeing me.
Logan: Sorry. It's just- you do this thing.. where you- where you just kind of... Appear.
Everyone giggled.
Thomas: Wait, what am I wearing? What IS my hair?
Roman: Welcome back, Thomas.
"Well that's one problem down" Lilly smiled. Everyone else agreed.
Thomas: Thanks, Roman. Look.. (Roman: Ow.) Anxiety, you don't understand. (Roman: Come on.)
"Poor Roman" laughed Valerie.
Thomas: For some reason, I wasn't feeling your presence at all.
Anxiety: Yeah, I know. It's because I've decided to duck out.
Patton: Quack.
Everyone started to snicker.
Thomas: What- duck out?
Patton: Quack, quack.
Roman: That's a thing you can do?
Logan: For this video, I guess.
Everyone laughed at the sides reactions.
Thomas: What do you mean?
Anxiety: I removed myself from the equation. I quit. Decided it wasn't worth it anymore.
Everyone was concerned about that. Virgil bowed his head embarrassed. Patton and Thomas each grabbed one of his hands to reassure both him and them. Remus started feeling antsy because of sitting still to long.
Thomas: Why would you do that?
"Yeah, why?" murmered Thomas quietly though Virgil heard it as did Joan.
Anxiety: Well, it didn't seem like I was wanted. You all made that pretty clear anytime I showed up.
"What?" Patton gasped.
Patton: Wha-
Anxiety: Except you, Patton. You're a funny guy.
"Awwwww" the girls all cooed.
Patton: I love my dark, strange son.
Virgil blushed while the Thomas and friends all cooed.
Roman: Well, surely you knew that we were just preparing ourselves for the worst po- (possible) Okay, ah.. maybe I could rephrase that. We were just tensing up because we knew that something bad would- Look, it's just you're never really fun and-
"I definetly could phrase myself better." Roman winced at how harsh that was.
Thomas: Roman, shut up.
Roman: Look, I am the creative side, not the fluffy, cutesy, kind, wordsy side.. sooo..
Logan: One would think that the creative side would be able to come up with a nicer way to talk to others..
"Ahh crap it has already started to corrupt them" Virgil sighed.
"Wait how do you know that" Loagn asked confused.
Everyone looked to Virgil curious.
"Well 1. you guys are getting antsy and moody, and 2. you guys have started gaining eyeshadow." Virgil answered.
"Uh," Logan said observing his onscreen self. He did seem to be moody and there was some eyeshadow on his eyes.
Everyone wondered how much this would affect the other sides.
Roman: You'd think the smart side would know when to mind his own business.
"Oh look I have eyeshadow to" Roman muttered. Thomas and his friends exchanged looks realising that this could go very badly.
Anxiety: Okay, it's real sweet that you all decided to come for a visit, but if I wanted to stand around being insulted... I would've shown up in person, like I usually do.
"Me trying to shoo the others out of my room before they become corrupted." Virgil stated.
Patton: Oh, you poor, little, anxious baby..
"And me" Patton stated.
Everyone was laughing ast how he delivered the line while Virgil was blushing.
Anxiety: Let's just face facts.. You're better off without me.
"Falsehood" Logan stated causing Thomas and his friends to snicker.
Thomas: No, NO, no, no, that is where you're wrong.
Logan: Very much so. I don't think any of us comprehended how much you factor into Thomas' decision making.
Thomas: Yeah.
Logan: I mean, without you, he was acting like a- um.. just a- like a big, bumbling, couch potato man.
Everyone laughed.
Thomas: That- There's probably a nicer way to say that, but-
Logan: Just an unfiltered... Just gonna come out and say it, a cotton-headed, Ninny Muggins.
"I am being seriously affected by his room" Logan observed.
Thomas: That is enough out of you... Logic!
Logan: See, he's reigning me in right now because of you.
Anxiety: You DO talk too much sometimes..
"It can be slightly overwhelming to have so much information thrown at you at once" Virgil muttered.
Logan thought about that and decided to see if he could deceminate information in smaller bits.
Logan: I never thought I'd appreciate you saying that.
Patton: We've already learned that Thomas listening to me too much can be a problem. Same with Roman. Probably even Logan.
"True it's all about moderation" Lilly said with a smile.
Logan: Easy..
Patton: Now, while I still have your attention.. Do you think maybe we could switch places?
"Aww Pat" Talyn pouted.
Anxiety: Alright, I can't say it isn't nice to hear you all groveling, but... I actually think you were right to not want me around. I've always aimed to protect you, but lately... It feels like I've been keeping you from doing anything.
"Aww Virgil, I'm sure thats not true" Thomas stated.
Virgil just kept quiet.
Roman: If your only goal is to protect, then why do you act like the embodiment of a dark and stormy night all the time?
"Because he will see me as to scary to ignore" Virgil answered even though it wasn't a question posed to offscreen him.
Everyone thought about that for a couple of seconds before the screen started up again forcing them to pay attention.
Thomas: Roman?
Roman: What?! He is a creepy cookie! You're a creepy cookie, Anxiety!
Thomas: Roman!
Roman: You're like a- an oatmeal raisin cookie that's primarily composed of raisins. A raisin oatmeal cookie. No one wants that!
Thomas: Pump the brakes, Princey!
Roman: I'm sorry.
Thomas: You pump those brakes.
"Good you are stopping me from being too mean" Roman said observing his behaviour onscreen and not liking what he is seeing.
Roman: I'm sorry. I'm just- I'm feeling a little... um... Extra passionate here.
"My eyeshadow is darker" Roman noted. The others noticed this as well as his jittery behaviour.
Patton: When did you apply eyeshadow?
"Oh good we have started noticing the eyeshadow" Thomas said. Everyone agreed.
Roman: I didn't, but does it look okay? Because the prince has got to slay.
Patton: Of course, it looks good. Why would you think it wouldn't? Do you have self-esteem issues? Am I asking too many questions?
"Aww I'm being all anxious like my kiddo" Patton pouted trying not to smile.
Virgil threw Patton a smile.
Anxiety: Putting on a dark persona is the best way to get anyone's guard up... But all this reflecting and working on your issues with us has gotten me to think that... I overdo it.
"No you do not mister" Patton stated firmly. The others agreed.
Patton: You could never overdo it.
Thomas: Mmm.. well...
Patton: You are perfect and special just the way you are. I don't care how dark your clothes are. You shine... Bright like a diamond.
Everyone giggled at Pattons little pep talk to onscreen Virgil. Virgil just smiled lightly.
Thomas: You o- you okay, Patton?
"Good we are also noticing the odd behavours" Thomas said seriously.
Patton: I just got a lot of feelings..
Roman: Hey, Patton! ..Eyeshadow buddies.
Patton: We are buddies..
"Patton seems alot more emotional" Terrence said. Everyone agreed.
Logan: Look, Anxiety, you're a natural fight-or-flight reflex. That's what you're instilled in humans to act as. And for some people.. Yes, you're a little heightened, but what's a little extra height, right? I mean, that just means you're tall enough to ride every ride at Disneyworld. Unless you're too tall and you get decapitated on It's a Small World.
"Oh wow" everyone muttered shocked.
Logan: Wow. Sorry for that little tangent. I am reeling right now. The point is too much of anything can be counterproductive.
Anxiety: Well, yeah, but for me-
Logan: Hold on!
"Rude!" Joan yelled making everyone laugh.
Logan: Yes, I'm about to provide more exposition, Thomas. Just bear with me.
Thomas: Okay..
Logan: The relationship between anxiety and performance can be expressed on this curve. Notice the Yerkes–Dodson curve. It's named after the psychologists, R. M. Yerkes and J. D. Dodson. They-
Roman: Get on with it, calculator watch!
Patton: Yeah, loud noises!
"They're beccoming increasingly jumpy and moody" Valerie observed. Deciet was getting bored wondering when he would come in.
"Yep they're slowly being corrupted by my room" Virgil muttered unhappy that the light sides had put themselves and Thomas in such danger. He started scanning the room again.
Logan: Okay, up here is where you want to be. The optimum degree of constructive tension. Yes, too much anxiety... Pushes us to this side of the curve and performance is hindered, which is less than ideal, But without you at all.. Thomas is not just on this more relaxed, laid-back side of the graph which is also... Not ideal when you're trying to get things done. He's all the way down here.
Roman: By the horn of a unicorn, that WAS going somewhere!
Everyone laughed.
Roman: I normally would have fallen asleep, but I am not feeling like my fabulous self right now. I am bitterly, jittery, and not very glittery.
"Oh god what happened to my hair!" Roman shouted watching himself onscreen.
"Um the room increases the emo in people" Virgil laughed.
Everyone just stared at Virgil at that comment.
Anxiety: So, with me, aren't you just always on the other side of that...Curve thing.
Logan: Yerkes–Dodson curve.
"Oh god I have bangs as well as seeming very angry" Logan sighed.
"Like I said it brings out your inner emo" Virgil said looking amused at their reactions.
Anxiety: Yeah, that.
Thomas: There's ways that I can work on that, Anxiety, But I'd rather work on it WITH you than without you at all.
"Aww Thomas is being sweet" Valerie laughed. Thomas's other friends giggling slightly.
Anxiety: How?
Thomas: I just need to make you feel listened to. You're like- like a really important alarm clock. Sure, the noise can be sudden and a little unpleasant sometimes,
Everyone laughed at the face onscreen Virgil made, even Virgil.
Thomas: But it's important for me to recognize the concern, register it, And carry on, changing my actions, if necessary.
Logan: You're what made Thomas double and triple-check things he needed to study before taking tests and-
"True" Lilly smiled.
Patton: Also, you know that feeling of tinglyness after achieving something he didn't think was possible!
"Also true" Terence smiled.
Logan: E equals MC scared!
Everone laughed at that.
Patton: Sorry, was that too loud? I was worried I wouldn't get another chance to speak and I wanted to share my thoughts before I forgot it.
Thomas: Anxiety... In small doses, you're what pressures me to get out of bed. To get moving, and doing stuff. I'm lucky to have you the way that I do.
"Again true" Valerie smiled.
Logan: Some people have anxiety that's heightened to the point where it becomes an incredibly difficult and hindering condition. Whether it's a symptom of a different issue, or an anxiety disorder... Or the unfortunate result of something someone may be going through.
Thomas: And I don't want to downplay any of that, But I think, maybe I could benefit from trying to understand you better.
"I can agree with onscreen me here" Thomas smiled looking at Virgil. Virgil smiled back.
Anxiety: I mean, it's cool to see you all trying to be helpful. Well, most of you, but-
Roman: Anxiety, you're...what pushes Thomas to rehearse and rehearse before performances. You are that nervousness that he feels right before going on stage, but just as he does so.. You ease up, and... You let his excitement and passion for performance take over. I think that's as good a sign as any that... You're willing to work as a team... And that you make us... Better.
"Another truth. Also look at how cute Virgil's little smile is there" Talyn smiled. Everyone agreed it was cute (even Deciet) and Virgil blushed embarrassed.
Roman: Was that good? Did I do good?!
Patton: I'm gonna cry. I just don't want to lose any of you.
Logan: Yerkes–Dodson!
Anxiety: Uh oh...
Thomas: Uh, what the heck is going on?
"Finally we are going to do something about them being in my room!" shouted Virgil relieved. Patton squeezed Virgil's hand in comfort.
Anxiety: These guys have all been in this corner of your mind for too long... It's corrupting them. All their main functions are starting to work to drive you far over to the other end of that curve.
"What's with the double voice?" Thomas asked.
Virgil looked embarrassed again.
"It's uh, something that happens when I either want to put more power into what I'm saying so you listen to me or when I myself am feeling overly anxious" Virgil muttered cautiously.
"Oh ok" Thomas reacted calmly.
Everyone turned back to the screen.
Thomas: What?!
Anxiety: Hang on. We're getting them all out of here. Thomas, remember what you've learned... Breathe in for four seconds. Hold your breath for seven seconds. Now breathe out for eight seconds. Keep it up, Thomas. That's good, keep going.
"Hey that's the technique dawnlilypotter used with you" Joan said suddenly pointing at the screen.
"Well she has probably seen all of these before bringing us here so maybe this is where she learned it" Logan answered well logically.
"Good point" Thomas smiled.
Roman: Okay.
Anxiety: That was a really risky thing you guys did.
"Really risky" Virgil muttered.
Thomas: Yeah, I'm pretty sure that if you were with us from the start... You'd have kept us from doing that in the first place.
Anxiety: Being anxious about the idea of growing more anxious. Yeah, that sounds like me.
Roman: You... rescued me.
Anxiety: Yeah, well... Fight-or-flight, am I right?
Logan: Incredibly right. Just like you keep Thomas away from potentially dangerous situations... You also enable him to escape from the ones he manages to get himself into.
"Again with the truths today" Joan laughed. Everyone agreed.
Patton: I am incredibly proud of you, Anxiety.
*pfft* *scoffs, embarrassed*
"Aww so embarrassed" Patton smiled cooing at his dark strange son. Virgil just blushed smiling.
Anxiety: Whatever.
Patton: But I'm more proud of myself for enduring the Great Spider Threat of 2017.
Logan: They were just curtains, Patton.
Everyone laughed.
Anxiety: You all went through that for me..
Roman: Ah, don't sweat it, Brad Pitiful. It was no big deal.
Thomas: It was worth it to regain my good ol' worrywart.
Logan: That's right and just like you saved us, It's the vigilant people that work the hardest to save the world. Sometimes it's better for a society to be anxious than complacent.
Anxiety: Another thing.. I lower all expectations for social gatherings. So, if you do actually go out.. anything remotely good, will be pleasantly surprising.
Everyone agreed that was a good thing.
Thomas: OH MY GOSH Patton: There you go! Roman: Yes! Logan: (?)
Anxiety: Not so bad..
Patton: Party on, my dudes.
Everyone laughed at Pattons silly quirks.
Thomas: Well.. glad to have you back, Anxiety, and I promise to make sure you feel listened to... And strive for a better balance from here on out. And to all of you out there-
Anxiety: Wait. Oh, boy, I'm actually considering it..
Thomas: What?
"I think I am about to reveal my name in the videos" Virgil muttered.
Anxiety: You've kinda made me want to open up to you, but big surprise, I'm really anxious about it.
Patton: Anxious, like your name.
Virgil giggled at that.
Anxiety: Yep, that was, uh... That- You're great, Patton, but actually.. on the subject of my name...
Roman: Shut up.
Logan: Oh, that's okay. No pressure if you don't want to-
Patton: Logan, Shut your ever-flapping gobtalker, okay?
Everyone laughed.
Thomas: No pranks or misleading?
Anxiety: Not this time. Oh, man. Why did we have to have a heartfelt moment?
Patton: It's totally fine, this is a very accepting environment. But I have to tell you that I've been theorizing on it for a very long time. So if it's not exactly the name that I think it is... I will lose it.
Anxiety: Okay, promise you won't laugh though..
Thomas: Of course not.
Anxiety: My name... My name is Virgil! Okay. It's like a band-aid. You just gotta rip it off.
"And there we go another name down" Thomas smiled happily.
Logan: Virgil?
*Roman snorts* *holds back laugh* *Virgil hums anxiously*
Patton: Oh, but that doesn't end with "-an" or an "-on"..
Patton: Shouldn't it be something like, uh.. Virgan?
Roman Laughs.
Thomas: Why's that so funny?
Roman: Um.. because, um... It's not.
"It's a little bit funny" Virgil muttered smiling.
Thomas: I think it is an awesome name.
Logan: It's not what I anticipated, but I do like it.
Patton: It's different, but I like that it's different.
Roman: It was... unexpected, but.. it took a lot to trust us with that information... Virgil.
Anxiety/Virgil: You can call me Virge.
"Look at you throwing out a nickname for us to use" Thomas said proud of his anxious side.
Thomas: Well, this has been a day learning to embrace all of who I am, learning new things about myself... Thank you for opening up to us, Anxiety- uh, Virgil. Virge, for short.
Anxiety/Virgil: Whatever, I'm at least glad I can offer some help, even if sometimes I can be.. hard to deal with.
Logan: In Thomas' case, you are indeed manageable.
Roman: Yeah, and you are nothing compared to the others.
"Roman has a big mouth" Virgil said glaring down at the red creative trait.
Thomas: Others? What do you mean others? What others? Well, this is foreboding.
Roman: Ah, it's nothing. So long!
Logan: Farewell.
Patton: Auf Wiedersehen, good night.
"Well that wasn't suspious" Terence said sarcastically.
Thomas: What was that all about?
Anxiety/Virgil: Look, I know I'm the one that's causing you to be suspicious... But honestly, table that question for another day.
Thomas: Gotcha. And Virgil?
Anxiety/Virgil: It's really weird hearing you say that.
Thomas: Honestly, thank you for all of the good stuff that you DO provide... You can be a good guy.
"Aww that little smile and wave" Valerie squealed wrinkly her nose up at how adorable it was.
Virgil was blushing and trying to sink lower in his seat while still feeling the happy glow of the complement his onscreen self had recieved fro their host.
Thomas: I hope this helps shed light on some of the possible upsides of anxiety. Again, there are plenty of people out there dealing with conditions where anxiety isn't as easily manageable. And too much can, of course, be a hindrance, but for many of you... By taking time to accept it as a natural part of you.. By making it feel heard and not letting it dominate you. Hopefully, managing your anxiety will get a little easier each day... Until next time. Take it easy, guys, gals, and non-binary pals. Peace out! This video went over possible upsides to anxiety, but many of us struggle with anxiety in different ways. If you're struggling with anxiety or something else, just know that you're not alone... And there are resources available to help you. Here are a few numbers you can call should you need help and not know who to turn to. Stay safe. I love you guys.
"Love how you give contact information to places that can help people if there anxiety is becomming debillitating" Virgil smiled.
"Well of course, if they need help they need to know who they can go to to seek that help" Thomas smiled back.
"Except if they live in another country that information was unhelpful" Logan spoke up.
"Logan chill" Patton smiled over at his boyfriend before pecking him on the lips.
"ENDCARD!" Talyn burst out suddenly startling everyone and then making everyone laugh.
Logan: Thought I saw this thing in here earlier. Is this my Alice in Wonderland puzzle book?
Virgil: Oh... yeah.
Logan: I respected your privacy for this long. Please try to respect mine.
Virgil: Okay..
Everyone laughed.
"Wait why would you have ttthe book" Logan asked confused.
"I probably read it and tried some of the puzzles. I like to read" Virgil answered.
"Oh, well you should ask" Logan said.
"Will do teach" Virgil smiled back.
Roman: Greetings, friendo..
Virgil: Yes?
Roman: I couldn't help but notice that you had some very nifty posters back here..
Virgil: Ugh, you probably already own like 101 Disney posters.
Roman: Yeah, I do. But me, and these posters are simply meant to be-
Virgil: You can't have my sick, nasty, Tim Burton posters!
Roman: Ugh, fine.
Everyone laughed.
"Why can't you just conjure one for yourself" asked Virgil.
"Probably didn't think of it" Roman blushed.
Everyone laughed.
Virgil: What?
Patton: Hey, kiddo. Not trying to bother you, just made you a little something for the room.. Hope to see you soon.
Virgil: He never really was good at art...
Everyone laughed.
"That was sweet Pat" Virgil smiled.
"Thanks kiddo" Patton smiled.
"That was a good episode" Joan said.
"It was" Thomas agreed. Everone else agreed to.
"Well break time" Thomas announced.
Everyone watched as Virgil shrunk back to his four year old form.