I still remember sitting in my doctor’s office, heart racing, palms sweating, convinced something was terribly wrong with me. Turns out, it wasn’t my heart—it was anxiety. And not just any anxiety—crippling, always-lurking-in-the-background kind. That was the first time I heard the term “beta blockers for anxiety.” I knew them as heart meds, not something…
To be honest, I was skeptical the first time someone suggested progressive muscle relaxation. I remember thinking, “How is tensing and relaxing my muscles going to calm my anxiety?” But after trying it for just a week—only a few minutes before bed—I started sleeping deeper. The racing thoughts didn’t vanish, but they softened enough to…
I was skeptical the first time someone suggested acupuncture for anxiety relief. Lying still with needles in my skin didn’t sound like a calming experience—it sounded like a setup for more tension. But when nothing else seemed to quiet the restlessness in my chest or the overthinking that hijacked my mornings, I gave it a…
When I first heard the term “cognitive behavioral therapy,” I thought it sounded way too clinical—like something reserved for textbooks or people with way bigger problems than mine. But after quietly battling years of overthinking, low-level panic, and an exhausting loop of self-doubt, I decided to give it a shot. I didn’t walk into a…
One morning, I woke up with this dull, tight sensation right in the center of my chest. It wasn’t sharp, not like in the movies when someone grabs their chest and keels over—but it was enough to send me into full-blown panic mode. I thought, “This is it. Something’s wrong with my heart.” I ended…
It wasn’t some big dramatic moment that made me realize I needed help with my anxiety. It was the little things. Sitting in traffic and suddenly feeling like I couldn’t breathe. Lying in bed exhausted but unable to sleep because my brain wouldn’t stop rehashing the same worry. Getting a text and avoiding it because…
It’s strange how anxiety can sneak up on you. I remember standing in line at a grocery store, heart racing, palms sweaty, convinced something awful was about to happen. Nothing did. But the feeling lingered. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed for no clear reason, you’re not alone—and chances are, anxiety has touched your life too….
When I first heard about forest bathing, I’ll admit—I rolled my eyes. As an internal medicine physician who’s spent years managing hypertension, I tend to side with science, not trendy wellness buzzwords. But curiosity got the better of me, and I dove into the research. What I found completely flipped my perspective. Turns out, how…
Ever felt like you just can’t catch your breath and wondered, “Is this asthma or anxiety?” You’re not alone. As a Pulmonary Nurse, I’ve seen this confusion play out countless times—patients convinced they’re having an asthma attack, only to find out their symptoms are driven by anxiety, or vice versa. Shortness of breath can be…