It’s wild how something as joyful as a family gathering can twist your insides into knots. The food, the laughter, the catch-ups—on the surface, it’s heartwarming. But beneath that cozy exterior, my mind sometimes races, palms get sweaty, and there’s this quiet panic bubbling up when I hear, “So, what have you been up to?”…
Honestly, if you’d told me five years ago that cracking a joke could help me survive a social situation, I probably would’ve laughed (nervously) and changed the subject. But here’s the thing—humor has saved me from more awkward silences and panic spirals than I can count. Social anxiety used to grip my life like a…
Some days, I’d sit at my desk staring at the screen for what felt like hours, unable to type a single word. My mind wasn’t blank—it was racing. Tasks piled up, emails sat unread, and even small decisions felt impossible. That’s the quiet reality of how anxiety chips away at daily productivity. It’s not dramatic,…
You ever catch yourself rewriting your to-do list five times in one morning? Yeah, same. I used to think it was just me trying to be productive—or worse, just a quirky habit. But over time, I realized it had a name and a root: overplanning as a response to anxiety. It’s sneaky. You feel in…
Last year, I found myself sitting on the edge of a café chair, gripping my water bottle like it was a lifeline. The world didn’t exactly spin, but it shifted—just slightly enough to make me question if I was about to pass out or lose my mind. Turns out, I wasn’t alone. If you’ve ever…
Let’s be real—long-distance relationships aren’t for the faint of heart. When you’re in one, anxiety can sneak into your thoughts like an uninvited guest. You might find yourself overthinking texts, spiraling about the future, or even just missing the comfort of their presence so much that it physically hurts. I’ve been there. I remember sitting…
People have always told me I’m “too quiet.” I used to take that personally. For years, I assumed I was just socially awkward or had something wrong with me. It wasn’t until I sat across from a therapist in my late 20s, nervously fiddling with a paper cup of water, that I realized there was…
If you’ve ever found yourself gripped with fear that you didn’t pray correctly, or that a single intrusive thought during a spiritual moment meant you were sinning — you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. For a long time, I didn’t even know there was a name for the obsessive thoughts I was having during…
Last week, I caught myself pacing near the window, eyes glued to the darkening sky. The temperature had dropped nearly 10 degrees, the air felt heavier, and out of nowhere, my chest tightened like I was bracing for something awful. I’ve dealt with anxiety long enough to know the signs—but what surprised me was just…