How do I know if my anxiety is normal or something more serious? by Ashlee Martin | Jul 1, 2025 | Anxiety, Ask a Therapist, Mental Health Topics If you’re questioning whether your anxiety is normal, you’re not alone. The truth is, anxiety itself is completely normal. It’s a future-focused emotion that helps us prepare for potential challenges. Anxiety is the feeling that prompts you to buckle your seatbelt, study for an exam, or rehearse before a big…
What is the 333 rule for anxiety? How this simple grounding technique works by Hannah DeWitt | Jun 24, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics Anxiety has a way of taking your emotions from calm to overwhelming in what feels like seconds. Whether you’re experiencing persistent worry that won’t quiet down or full-blown panic attacks, anxiety can make you feel like you’re losing control of your thoughts and body. That’s exactly why having reliable coping…
Emotional flooding: Why you feel overwhelmed and what actually helps by Alisa Hrustic | Jun 18, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics Picture a jar full of marbles: Each marble represents a difficult feeling or emotion—grief, anger, or guilt, to name a few. Now, imagine the last person who upset or hurt you: They knock the jar over, the glass shatters, and the marbles spill out all over the floor. They quickly…
Nighttime anxiety: Why it gets worse at night–and what you can do about it by Alisa Hrustic | Jun 3, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics After a long day, all you want is to quiet your mind and drift into restful sleep. That’s why few things are more frustrating—or anxiety-inducing—than a sudden rush of racing thoughts or the urge to mentally review tomorrow’s to-do list the moment your head hits the pillow. If this sounds…
Functional freeze explained: Why you’re exhausted, disconnected, and still getting things done by Angela Myers | May 22, 2025 | ADHD, Anxiety, Mental Health Topics, Stress You’re crushing work deadlines and leading Zoom meetings with ease, but when it comes time to decide on dinner, you freeze. Or maybe you can easily make it through a jam-packed work trip, but as soon as you have a weekend to yourself, you scroll TikTok or rewatch Schitt’s Creek…
Fear of germs: mysophobia symptoms and treatment options, explained by Hannah DeWitt | Apr 4, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics In the post-COVID era, many of us instinctively reach for a disinfecting wipe to clean the grocery cart handle before shopping. While a healthy awareness of germs can protect us, excessive fear can disrupt daily life and well-being. Mysophobia, an intense anxiety about dirt, pathogens (germs), and contaminated objects, can…
5 fast ways to calm down when you need it most by Alisa Hrustic | Mar 17, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics, Stress When you’re stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or all of the above, there’s nothing less helpful than being told to “calm down,” even if it’s your own internal monologue. Whether you’re drowning in work, trying to balance parenting with your own needs, or grappling with the loss of a relationship, sometimes life…
Understanding overstimulation: What it is, why it happens, and how to get relief by Jessica Levine | Mar 13, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics You’re standing in the kitchen, making coffee as you scroll through your Instagram feed and reply to a quick work email. Then—ding!—a reminder about tomorrow’s dentist appointment pops up, immediately followed by a breaking news notification and two direct messages from your boss. Suddenly, the lights seem a little too…
Political anxiety: How to care for yourself and set effective boundaries by Alexandra Cromer, LPC | Feb 6, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics Generally speaking, politics can be a challenging topic to talk about. It often causes disagreements, stress, and tension. During tumultuous times like elections or changes in office, this stress can grow to become political anxiety. In the discussion of politics, anxiety might be provoked when you read the news, check…
Anxiety in relationships: How it manifests and ways to cope as a couple by Evan Csir, LPC | Jan 29, 2025 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Healthy relationships have the power to bring joy, connection, and improved self-esteem. However, anxiety can disrupt those feelings and take a toll, both on the person experiencing it and their partner. By understanding the roots of anxiety and its impact on the relationship, couples can create emotional safety and develop…
Systematic desensitization therapy: How does it work? by Kate Hanselman, PMHNP-BC | Dec 23, 2024 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics Whether it’s for OCD, trauma symptoms, or another condition, systematic desensitization therapy can help make triggers manageable, or even allow you to overcome them altogether. Read on to learn more about how systematic desensitization therapy works, how it differs from exposure therapy, and whether it might be right for you.
Prozac for anxiety: Effectiveness, side effects, and risks by Tamiqua Jackson, PMHNP | Dec 20, 2024 | Anxiety, Medication, Mental Health Topics, Psychiatry As one of the most well-known medications used to treat anxiety and depression, Prozac is almost a household name. And for good reason—along with therapy, taking medications such as Prozac for anxiety is often a successful way to treat the challenging symptoms of many anxiety disorders. But even with such…