How Do I Talk to Myself?

There’s so much advice online about talking to oneself as a friend. You’re supposed to stop the negative self-talk that’s just making you more anxious and depressed. One of the number one pieces of advice on the internet is to treat yourself with kindness. You write out positive affirmations and say them into the mirror. …

When you suffer from anxiety, how do you help others through their times of stress?

I need help knowing how to support my husband. He’s been going through a very stressful time at work now for months. It’s dragging out unbearably, but we keep hoping that soon it will be all resolved. In the meantime, he is stressed, and me, as an extremely empathic anxious person, am stressed by his …

Anxiety Sneaks Up on Me

It’s rare for me to have an anxiety or OCD crisis nowadays. I see my therapist regularly. I have a medication regime that on the whole is working. I have changed a lot of things in my life to support my mental health. All of these things keep me fairly on an even keel. However, …

Self-Care Hurts

Yesterday afternoon I was lying on the acupuncture bed, trying (and failing) not to wince when the acupuncturist lightly touched a tender muscle before putting in a needle. I had been traveling for family and was still stiff, sore, and knotted up after the long flights. I knew that I would feel better in the …

Looking Forward to My New Work Future

Why Changing Careers Fills Me With Relief One thing that I didn’t expect to feel after deciding to leave my program was relief and lightness. I thought I would feel regret and sadness, and I did and I do. But I also feel joy that all the things I worried about my program and my …