There’s this thing I used to do where I’d explode at the tiniest provocation—someone cutting me off in traffic, a coworker interrupting me mid-sentence, even a slow internet connection. My chest would tighten, hands shake, and before I even knew it, I was snapping or yelling. It took me years to realize what I was…
Social anxiety used to hijack my every thought at work, school, and even at casual dinners with friends. I’d replay conversations in my head like they were crime scene footage, dissecting every word I said. It wasn’t until I started trying out actual coping techniques—not just vague “take a deep breath” advice—that things genuinely began…
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…
Not long ago, I found myself obsessively checking nutrition labels. The culprit? Sugar. More specifically—how much of it was sneaking into my diet and how it was making me feel. I wasn’t just worried about my physical health anymore. I started connecting the dots between those innocent “midday treats” and a gnawing sense of unease…
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…