Doechii’s "Anxiety" featuring Sleepy Hallow is a raw and introspective exploration of inner turmoil, paranoia, and emotional instability. Originally recorded in her bedroom in 2019, the track was part of her Coven Music Session, Vol. 1 mixtape. It gained viral traction on TikTok in early 2025, leading to its official streaming release on March 4, 2025. Sampling Gotye’s 2011 hit "Somebody That I Used to Know," Doechii reinvents the familiar melody with her unique style, blending haunting production with confessional lyricism to capture the suffocating grip of anxiety.
The Unshakable Presence of Anxiety
The chorus personifies anxiety as an intrusive force attempting to silence and control the narrator. Lines like "Anxiety, keep on tryin’ me / Feel it quietly, tryna silence me" illustrate how it manifests both internally and externally, feeding self-doubt while amplifying societal pressures. The repetition of "somebody’s watchin’ me" injects an element of paranoia, reinforcing the sensation of being scrutinized even in solitude.
The struggle to shake off this overwhelming feeling is evident in "Shake it off of me," but the cyclical nature of the song suggests that the battle with anxiety is never-ending.
Sleepy Hallow’s Perspective: Coping with Demons
Sleepy Hallow’s verse delves into the darker, self-destructive side of battling anxiety, revealing how it distorts reality and fuels reckless behavior.
- "Shit got me trippin’, fightin’ with my demons and my demons is winnin’" conveys a sense of losing control to internal struggles.
- "I feel like, don’t nobody ever feel how I feel" highlights isolation, a common effect of anxiety, where one believes their suffering is uniquely misunderstood.
Substance Use as a Coping Mechanism
Lines like "And I ain’t never sober, baby girl, I get high still" illustrate a reliance on substances as a temporary escape. Despite warnings ("Boy, don’t sip lean and pop pills"), the cycle persists, underscoring the difficulty of breaking free from unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Paranoia and Distrust
Anxiety breeds paranoia, making it difficult to trust others. Sleepy Hallow emphasizes this with lines such as:
- "Watch for that snake, he might bite me / Watch out for anybody movin’ spicy" — a reflection of both real and irrational fears.
- "They showin’ real love? That’s unlikely / Fuck you, I ain’t ask you to like me" — a defensive stance against perceived inauthenticity, reinforcing emotional detachment as a survival mechanism.
The Maze of the Mind: Feeling Trapped in Anxiety
Sleepy Hallow continues his introspective journey, illustrating how anxiety entraps the mind:
- "Feel like I’m stuck in a maze, I just try not to feel too amazed" — a metaphor for the cyclical and inescapable nature of anxiety.
- "Sometimes I feel like a slave to my feelings, I can’t really even tell you how I’m feelin’" — expressing the difficulty of articulating internal struggles, even when seeking help.
Navigating Loss, Success, and the Uncertainty of the Future
Lines like "You gotta lose a lot before the winnin’" reflect how anxiety magnifies failures, overshadowing moments of success. Yet, "Made mistakes, ain’t no way to rewind / But fuck it, we get over shit over time" suggests an acceptance of life's hardships, acknowledging that growth comes through perseverance.
A Song’s Evolution: Influence and Reception
While Doechii's "Anxiety" first surfaced in 2019, it gained renewed attention in 2023 when Sleepy Hallow released his own version, sampling Doechii’s original track. This collaborative interplay between versions highlights the evolving nature of music and its ability to resonate across different audiences.
Upon its official release, "Anxiety" was praised for its authenticity and Doechii’s fearless confrontation of personal demons. Critics lauded her ability to translate complex emotions into deeply relatable narratives, solidifying her place as a poignant voice in contemporary music.
Final Thoughts: A Haunting Reflection on Mental Battles
Through Doechii’s chilling chorus and Sleepy Hallow’s introspective verses, "Anxiety" captures the weight of living with mental distress. The song does not offer a resolution — mirroring the reality of anxiety as a continuous struggle — but instead provides a space for raw honesty and connection. Its journey from a bedroom recording to a viral sensation stands as a testament to the power of vulnerability in music, inviting listeners to confront their own experiences with mental health and emerge stronger on the other side.
