I used to think that my habit of double-checking the door lock five times before bed was just a quirky part of who I am. I brushed it off until I noticed it started bleeding into other parts of my life — rereading texts obsessively before hitting send, tapping the side of my mug every…
It used to start the moment I stepped onto the train platform. That subtle buzz of nerves in my stomach would quickly grow into a full-blown wave of anxiety by the time the train screeched into the station. If you’ve ever felt like your heart’s about to leap out of your chest or your legs…
Years ago, I thought I had it all figured out—fast-paced job, tight deadlines, and a calendar so full it made sleep feel optional. I brushed off the jitters, the racing thoughts, and the Sunday-night dread. “Just pressure,” I told myself. Turns out, it was something much deeper. If you’ve ever worked in high-stakes industries—tech, healthcare,…
I’ve always thought I was a people pleaser — until I realized I was just deeply uncomfortable saying no. It wasn’t until I hit a breaking point, overwhelmed, anxious, and constantly drained, that I understood what was missing: boundaries. The kind that protect your energy, your sanity, and yes, your mental health. Turns out, setting…
Living with a chronic health condition can feel like you’re constantly carrying an invisible weight. You’re managing medications, appointments, flare-ups—and on top of that, there’s anxiety. A deep, often unspoken anxiety that creeps in between doctor visits and test results. I’ve been there, waking up in the middle of the night wondering if a new…
If you’ve ever found yourself panicking in a crowded elevator or avoiding small rooms with no windows, you’ve likely asked yourself: is this claustrophobia or anxiety—or both? I used to confuse the two all the time. What started as a mild discomfort in tight spaces spiraled into full-blown anxiety attacks in places I wouldn’t have…
It crept up on me slowly. I didn’t even notice it at first—just skipped a few hangouts, dodged some calls, told myself I was “tired” or “busy.” Before I knew it, entire weekends would go by without talking to anyone. If you’ve experienced social withdrawal due to anxiety, you know it’s not just about being…
It’s wild how a routine check-up can spiral into something mentally exhausting. I remember sitting in my car after the doctor told me they found “something unusual.” No clear diagnosis yet, just the dreaded “We’ll wait for the results.” And boom—my brain took off. Racing thoughts. Tight chest. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t eat. If you’ve ever…
It’s wild how much your gut reacts when your brain is in overdrive. I remember waking up one morning feeling like my stomach had just done ten rounds of kickboxing—tight, crampy, bloated. No bad food, no bug, just stress. Turns out, that “gut feeling” isn’t just a figure of speech. Stomach problems caused by anxiety…