>> I was a long-time LiveJournal user and eventually left (16 years, I think?) but I realized I still needed a place to rant. <<

I started on LiveJournal and only picked up Dreamwidth as a backup after LJ started to suck.

>> A friend suggested DW, I signed up, ended up deleting that account quickly, but then regretting it. So I'm back! Sort of new, but sort of not new too. I'll try to remember to use tags, and cut posts are a good idea. <<

There are various methods for managing content, which include:

* Friends-locking posts.

* Using filters so people only see the categories they want.

* Cut-tags with a brief description above and touchy stuff below.

* Keeping separate journals for public content and fanfic, mental health stuff, etc.

You can experiment to see what works for you. Do check the current DW offerings -- they change over time and aren't all the same as LJ now.

>>My anxiety is definitely generalized, and writing has helped me deal with it since I was quite young. Three cheers for anonymous anxiety blogs. I'll be unloading my brain again soon, I'm sure.<<

I'm glad you've found ways to cope with it. There are a lot of supportive venues online.