Back when my lower back was acting up every time I sat for more than 20 minutes, I tried everything—yoga, foam rolling, even switching out my office chair. Some of it helped a little, but nothing really addressed that tight, nagging tension. It wasn’t until I stumbled into guided imagery (almost by accident through a…
Caregiving can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life—but also one of the most emotionally draining. When I was caring for my aging father after his stroke, I thought I had everything under control. But anxiety crept in quietly, day after day, until it felt like I was carrying a weight I couldn’t…
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…
I used to think anxiety was just occasional nerves before big events. You know, like job interviews or public speaking. But over time, I noticed those feelings creeping into the ordinary parts of my day—opening emails, going to the grocery store, or even scrolling social media. It wasn’t until I started online therapy for anxiety…
Ever felt your heart race before a big presentation, or found yourself wide awake at 3 AM running through worst-case scenarios in your head? Yeah, me too. The thing is, it’s easy to toss around words like “stressed out” or “anxious” like they’re interchangeable. But here’s the truth — they’re not the same beast. And…
Money has a sneaky way of creeping into our mental health. I used to think anxiety came solely from emotional triggers or genetics, but then I had a year where my finances were a mess. Bills piled up, credit cards maxed out, and suddenly, I couldn’t sleep. Sound familiar? If you’re feeling that constant tension…
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) didn’t just help me manage my anxiety—it completely reshaped the way I understand it. I remember sitting in a therapist’s office, shoulders tight, constantly bracing for a “what if” scenario that rarely came true. It felt like my brain was wired to worry. What changed? I discovered that managing anxiety wasn’t…
I never really saw it coming. Perfectionism always felt like a badge of honor—striving for excellence, triple-checking every detail, pushing myself just a little harder than everyone else. But at some point, it stopped feeling like a strength and started weighing me down. Deadlines made me freeze. One small mistake ruined my entire day. I…
Living with asthma is challenging enough, but when stress sneaks in and triggers your symptoms, it can feel overwhelming. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to catch your breath during a tense moment, you’re not alone. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner with years of hands-on experience, I’ve seen firsthand how stress-induced asthma can complicate lives…