Inside an Anxiety Attack: What It Feels Like and How to Cope
The room starts to spin slightly. Suddenly, your heart is racing like you’ve just finished sprinting up several flights of stairs. Your palms become clammy, breathing feels shallow and rapid, and a wave of dread washes over you despite there being no apparent danger. If this sounds familiar, you may have experienced an anxiety attack…
OCD vs. Perfectionism: Where’s the Line?
Do you identify as a perfectionist? Maybe you like things orderly, you’re naturally neat and driven, and you follow specific personal rules. If this sounds like you, you might be wondering whether your tendencies cross the line into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)…
Coping with OCD: Essential Tools for Everyday Life
Living with OCD is an ongoing journey, even when you’re actively working with a therapist or taking medication. The daily reality is that managing OCD requires consistent effort and a toolkit of practical strategies that you can use whenever symptoms arise…
More Than Just “Being Neat”: What Is OCD?
“I’m such an OCD neat freak.” or “Everything has to be lined up perfectly in my closet. I definitely have OCD.” Sound familiar?
You’ve probably heard statements like these countless times, or maybe even said them yourself. While these comments might seem harmless, they actually contribute to a harmful stigma that misrepresents what obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) really is…
Navigating Grief: What Helps (and What Doesn’t)
Grief is one of the most universal human experiences, and we still can’t fully prepare for it. Whether you’re going through the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or even a vision of the future, grief will change you…
The Emotional Toll of Being the Fixer—and How to Set Yourself Free
Some people seem to instinctively know how to smooth over tension. They take on everyone else’s problems like it’s their personal responsibility. These are the fixers…
The Predicament of Type A Personalities: Intellectually Brilliant Yet Socially Awkward
If you ask a sample of people how they feel about type A personalities, you’ll probably get an even split on both sides of the fence. Type A has a solid stereotype, which is favored by some, but less than desirable for others…
How to Prioritize Self-Care During a Divorce
When you’re growing up, there are certain things that you look forward to. Turning 16, 18, and 21 are big milestones that allow you to take on added roles and responsibilities. But some things occur that you can’t plan for and also couldn’t imagine for yourself. Divorce is one of those things…
Why You Might Feel Regret After a Breakup—Even If It Was the Right Choice
Breakups are rarely simple. Even when you know in your heart that ending a relationship was the right choice, you might still find yourself wrestling with regret, second-guessing your decision, and wondering what might have been. This emotional whiplash can be confusing and even distressing…
How to Navigate a Relationship with an Emotionally Invalidating Partner
Emotional validation is a fundamental part of healthy relationships. It helps us feel seen, heard, and safe with our partners. Routine dismissal, criticism, and ignoring of our emotions chip away at our self-esteem and connection with our partners…
The Hidden Pressure of Success: Managing Stress as a High Achiever
Striving for success is a good thing. Success often brings admiration, praise, and new opportunities. But behind it all lies a quieter, often unspoken reality: the intense pressure high achievers feel to keep performing, proving, and pushing…
How to Set Boundaries as Co-Parents
Marriages and relationships don’t always work out, and sometimes splitting up is the best thing you can do for yourself and your former partner. However, when you have children together, it can change the dynamic of how you communicate and see each other…
Coping with Empty Nest Grief: Why This Life Stage Can Feel So Painful
Whether they leave for college, a new job, or simply to start a life of their own, the day a child leaves home can feel like both a proud milestone and a heartbreaking goodbye. For many parents, the “empty nest” phase, often romanticized as a time of newfound freedom and opportunity, can actually be a time of grieving…
What’s Really Behind Perfectionism? Unpacking the Fear, Shame, and Control
Perfectionism doesn’t just mean working hard or aiming for high goals. Striving for excellence can be motivating and rewarding; it comes from a place of curiosity, purpose, and joy. On the other hand, perfectionism is fueled by a fear of failure and the belief that anything less than perfect is unacceptable…
What Is High-Functioning Anxiety? Signs and How to Cope
When most people hear the word “anxiety,” they imagine someone visibly distressed. A person with anxiety is probably restless, sweating, and avoiding situations altogether. But anxiety doesn’t always look like that…
How to Learn from your Relationship Mistakes so you Don’t Keep Repeating Them
Most of us, at some point, have experienced the unsettling feeling of relationship déjà vu. It starts with chemistry and romance, and feels like this time it’ll be different. We make plans and get cozy, then the familiar red flags wave…
What to Do When Divorce Anxiety Causes Panic Attacks
Divorce is a significant life event that, despite its frequency, often comes with a hefty dose of anxiety. Even when it feels like the right choice, stepping into a new chapter can be daunting. The stress can escalate into panic attacks: sudden bouts of intense fear that usually last less than 15 minutes…
Thriving in Transition: How Women Can Navigate Midlife Career Changes
As a woman in midlife, you know change is inevitable. Your priorities are shifting, and you may consider a career transition to better align with this new chapter. Though daunting, this crossroads presents immense growth opportunities…
Preparing and Protecting Finances During Divorce
When you find your person and fall in love, the next step is often getting married. After saying those wedding vows, you’re ready to start your happily ever after. You establish your household, merge your finances, and start family planning together…
Not Sure What You Want in a Relationship? Let’s Change That!
Feeling uncertain about what you want in a relationship? That’s okay! No one truly ever knows what they’re looking for until they find it. Exploration of relationships can be fun and exciting, but a little daunting as well…