You know what’s ironic? The medication that’s supposed to help you feel less anxious… ends up giving you a whole new set of reasons to feel anxious. I’ve been there. When I first started taking meds for my GAD, I remember feeling hopeful—finally, something to quiet the buzzing in my head. But then came the…
It’s wild how anxiety rarely travels alone. I learned this the hard way. Back when I was battling what I thought was “just” anxiety, I found myself constantly exhausted, struggling with gut issues, and having mood swings that didn’t make sense. Turns out, those weren’t random symptoms—they were signs of comorbid conditions that were quietly…
When I first heard the term “mental health screening tools,” I honestly didn’t think it applied to me. I wasn’t in therapy. I wasn’t on medication. I was just… stressed. Or so I thought. Like so many people, I didn’t realize that what I was brushing off as “just stress” had already started to chip…
I remember sitting in that sterile, over-lit room, fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve, pretending I was fine. But inside? I was vibrating with anxiety. The therapist across from me smiled kindly and said, “Let’s start with a few simple questions.” What followed was my very first psychological evaluation for anxiety. I had no…
There was a time I couldn’t figure out if what I was feeling was just regular stress, anxiety, or something deeper. I’d get chest tightness, racing thoughts, and random dizziness — all during moments that didn’t seem “big enough” to cause such chaos in my body. I vividly remember Googling symptoms endlessly, jumping from forums…
It took me years—literally years—to figure out that what I was dealing with wasn’t just being “a little stressed.” I bounced from doctor to doctor, test after test, only to walk away with vague diagnoses like “maybe it’s your hormones” or “perhaps you’re just sensitive.” Looking back now, it’s crystal clear: I was one of…
When I first started noticing the way my body reacted to even minor things—like a delayed email reply or running five minutes late to a meeting—I brushed it off as just being a bit “too sensitive.” What I didn’t realize was how chronic stress was slowly priming my system for something much deeper: anxiety. It…
I never really saw it coming. Perfectionism always felt like a badge of honor—striving for excellence, triple-checking every detail, pushing myself just a little harder than everyone else. But at some point, it stopped feeling like a strength and started weighing me down. Deadlines made me freeze. One small mistake ruined my entire day. I…
Living with a chronic illness comes with enough baggage—doctor visits, tests, meds, flare-ups. But no one really talks about the constant *what ifs* that creep in. That slow but steady thrum of fear that shadows every symptom flare or unexpected ache. That, my friend, is **chronic illness anxiety**, and it’s not just in your head….