Katie Jayne - Dear Anxiety: A Song, A Story, A Journey

Rising country artist Katie Jayne’s new powerful single, Dear Anxiety, is set to be released tomorrow (2 May). In support of Mental Health Awareness Month, the raw, emotionally charged ballad is framed as a letter to anxiety itself, capturing the weight of inner struggle.

Jayne has penned a piece below reflecting on her own mental health journey and the inspiration behind the song, offering a deeper look into the heart and meaning behind the music.

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Katie Jayne - Dear Anxiety: A Song, A Story, A Journey

“Mental health is something I’ve been quietly battling for a long time. It wasn’t until about six years ago that I was officially diagnosed with severe depression, along with anxiety and CPTSD. Up until that point, I thought that this was just the way it was, sometimes I felt confident and courageous and ready to shine and other times, I just couldn't seem to sparkle, like I was broken and dull.

I thought I just had to "toughen up," wait it out or push through, to smile and keep going. But the truth is, ignoring it didn’t make it go away, it was a cycle that would keep repeating. Happy and confident for months and then downtrodden and defeated for months. Repeating continuously on a loop, and it never ended. 

Getting professional help changed my life.

I now see a psychologist regularly - fortnightly, in fact - and those sessions are still such a crucial part of my wellbeing. They help me stay accountable to myself, to the tools I’ve learned, and to the version of me that I’ve fought so hard to become. The version that dreams big, works hard, and shows up even on the tough days. I don’t always get it right. Some days are heavier than others. But that’s the beauty of being human. We’re all a little flawed. We make mistakes. And we’re still worthy of love, of joy, of peace.

That’s why Dear Anxiety is such a special song to me. It’s not just another single, it’s a letter to that internal voice that makes you doubt yourself, question your worth, overthink, and spiral.

And I want to celebrate someone very special who brought this song into my life. Years ago, Luke Noack first shared Dear Anxiety with me, almost fully formed, and I felt his words in my soul. At the time, I didn’t know just how much those lyrics would come to mean to me, but they lived in my heart until the time was right to bring them to life. Taking it into the studio was more than just recording a song, it was honouring and building on something that had stayed with me through my own journey.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the reality that so many people live with mental health struggles. In Australia, one in five people experiences a mental health disorder in any given year. That’s someone in your family. Your friend group. Your workplace. Maybe even you.

The stigma around mental health is still too real, but conversations like this, honest, raw, and vulnerable can help chip away at it. There’s such strength in asking for help. Whether it’s reaching out to a friend, calling a support line, or booking in with a mental health professional, taking that first step can truly be life-changing.

If you’re struggling, please know this: you’re not broken. You’re not too much. You’re not a burden. There is support out there, and there is light ahead, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. Organisations like Beyond Blue and Lifeline are there 24/7. You are never alone.

I hope Dear Anxiety gives a voice to those silent battles. I hope it reminds you that healing is possible. And most of all, I hope it helps you feel seen.

X”

If you’re going through a tough time, you’re not alone.

For 24/7 free and confidential support, you can reach out to Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.