Mistakes. Ugh. We all make them—big, small, sometimes embarrassingly in front of a crowd. I’ve lost sleep over typos in emails, spiraled for hours after saying something awkward in a meeting, or second-guessed a parenting decision I made days ago. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Managing anxiety about making mistakes isn’t about becoming perfect—it’s about…
It’s one thing to deal with anxiety. It’s another beast entirely when it rides shotgun with a chronic illness. I still remember sitting in a sterile doctor’s office, heart pounding faster than it should, wondering if I was anxious or just reacting to another flare-up. Spoiler: it was both. Managing anxiety on top of managing…
Every now and then, I catch myself reacting to something seemingly small—an offhand comment, a slight change in routine—and feeling this overwhelming sense of dread or unease. I used to think it was just stress. But over time, I realized it ran deeper. That lingering anxiety, I found out, was tied to unresolved trauma—stuff I…
If you’ve ever found yourself reacting with intense fear, shame, or panic to something seemingly harmless — like a tone of voice, a glance, or even a quiet moment alone — you’re not alone. I’ve had those moments where my heart starts pounding, palms sweating, mind spinning, and I couldn’t quite explain why. Turns out,…
It hits out of nowhere. You’re doing something totally mundane — brushing your teeth, waiting in line for coffee, or zoning out in a meeting — and boom. A disturbing memory barges into your mind like it owns the place. Not just a memory, but one that grabs your chest and squeezes like a vice….
If you’ve ever found yourself worrying endlessly about something that hasn’t even happened yet, you’re not alone. I’ve been there—sitting in a coffee shop, feeling that tightness in my chest, thinking about a phone call I need to make next week. Not even today. Not even tomorrow. But next week. That’s what anticipatory grief and…
If you’ve ever found yourself ducking out of a social gathering, skipping a work call, or avoiding a triggering place or person—all because your chest tightens, your palms sweat, and your mind says “run”—you’re not alone. I’ve done it. Many times. At first, it felt like self-preservation. But eventually, it became a cage. In anxiety…
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…
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…