It wasn’t until my third sleepless night in a row that I started questioning if my thoughts were the problem. I kept imagining worst-case scenarios, assuming I was doomed, and obsessing over things most people would brush off. That’s when I stumbled into the world of cognitive distortions—and everything started making sense. If you’ve ever…
It’s funny how often we praise perfectionism like it’s this badge of honor — like saying “I’m just a perfectionist” somehow explains late nights, missed meals, and chronic self-doubt. I used to wear that badge proudly, until it quietly started running my life. I didn’t even realize how much anxiety was rooted in that drive…
Gut health isn’t something I ever thought I’d be obsessing over—until I realized how deeply it was messing with my anxiety. What started as bloating and mild discomfort quietly crept into my daily life like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Turns out, the gut and the brain are on a constant group chat, and when…
Let me be real with you—when my anxiety was at its peak, the last thing I expected to help was a dog with a lopsided grin and a wagging tail. But there I was, curled up on the couch after a tough day, and this rescue pup plopped down beside me like she’d been sent…
Money has a sneaky way of creeping into our mental health. I used to think anxiety came solely from emotional triggers or genetics, but then I had a year where my finances were a mess. Bills piled up, credit cards maxed out, and suddenly, I couldn’t sleep. Sound familiar? If you’re feeling that constant tension…
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this thing where I’d get super anxious before something even happens—whether it’s a presentation, a trip, or even just meeting up with friends. It wasn’t the event itself that rattled me; it was the *build-up*. This wasn’t just about feeling nervous. It felt like my chest…
I remember the first time I heard the phrase exposure therapy. I was sitting in a coffee shop with a friend, desperately explaining why I avoided driving over bridges — something that had quietly taken over more areas of my life than I’d ever realized. She nodded and said, “That sounds like something exposure therapy…
I never thought sitting still could be the answer. For years, my mornings were clouded by an invisible pressure sitting heavy on my chest, my brain looping the same anxious thoughts like a stuck record. You know the kind—“What if this happens?”, “What if I mess up?”, “What if it never gets better?”. It wasn’t…
Last month, I found myself wide awake at 3 a.m.—again. No emergency, no late-night coffee, just an overactive brain stuck in replay mode. You’d think a grown adult with a bedtime routine wouldn’t have this issue. But when sleep deprivation and anxiety team up, even a quiet room feels like a battleground. And if you’ve…