Not too long ago, I found myself stuck—sweaty palms, heart pounding, thoughts spiraling—right before a team presentation I had prepped for weeks. Sounds familiar? That’s performance anxiety, and it doesn’t care how prepared or talented you are. It shows up uninvited, right when you need your confidence the most. Over time, I’ve learned that overcoming…
For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. Every little twinge in my chest? Must be a heart attack. That weird pressure in my head? Brain tumor. I practically had WebMD bookmarked. If you’ve ever Googled your symptoms at 2 a.m., convinced you’re on the verge of collapse, you’re not…
It’s 2 a.m. and your mind won’t shut off. You’re lying in bed, physically exhausted, but mentally replaying a conversation from two days ago for the 37th time. “Why did I say that?” “Did I look weird?” “What if they think I’m ridiculous?” Obsessive thoughts in anxiety are like uninvited guests who don’t know when…
When I was first prescribed buspirone for my generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), I’ll admit—I was skeptical. I’d heard of SSRIs, maybe even benzodiazepines, but buspirone? It didn’t ring any bells. The name sounded like a bus stop, not a medication. But I was desperate for something that wouldn’t make me feel like a zombie or…
If someone had told me years ago that something as gentle and non-invasive as Reiki could help with my anxiety, I’d have rolled my eyes. I used to associate it with crystals and incense and vague spiritual lingo. But life has a funny way of humbling you. After trying therapy, medication, breathing exercises, and every…
There was a time I didn’t even realize anxiety had taken such a big seat at my table. It crept in quietly—tight chest, racing thoughts, sleep that never felt like sleep. I tried everything: yoga, breathing exercises, even cutting caffeine (which felt like betrayal). But the thing that surprised me most? A notebook. Journaling for…
I remember sitting in the therapist’s office, fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve, unsure of what I was even supposed to say. My anxiety was so intense that even admitting I needed help felt like a failure. I’d tried mindfulness apps, breathing exercises, and enough chamomile tea to hydrate a small country—but nothing stuck….
It hit me in the middle of a grocery aisle. One second, I was reaching for a carton of almond milk, and the next, it felt like I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened, my heart pounded, and the world felt like it was closing in. I wasn’t dying, although that’s exactly what it felt like—I…
It was a Tuesday afternoon when I sat in traffic, heart racing for no obvious reason. No caffeine. No stress (at least none I could pinpoint). Just that familiar, gnawing sense of dread that creeps in without knocking. It’s the kind of moment that makes you pause and think, “There’s gotta be a better way…