If you’re like me, spring is a terrible, terrible time because it means allergies are upon us. They cause congestion, fatigue, and general misery. Science has also shown that there’s a connection between allergies and anxiety, though we’re still not 100% sure what that connection looks like. One part of the connection I addressed in … Continue reading Addressing Allergies and Anxiety
Posts
I’m Not “Just Shy”: Introversion vs. Social Anxiety
I don’t particularly like the phrases “shy” or “socially awkward”. Maybe it’s because I was always called “the shy kid” growing up, but I find that these terms oversimplify what is actually going on. It took me until my late 20s to stop beating myself up about my perceived social deficiencies, and really take a … Continue reading I’m Not “Just Shy”: Introversion vs. Social Anxiety
“Reframing” Physical Sensations
This past week, I’ve been trying an experiment. I’ve been having a bad bought of health anxiety, and as such, my mind has been hyper focused on what’s going on with my body. So, I’ve decided to try and use that hyper awareness to my advantage, and try to direct it towards other parts of … Continue reading “Reframing” Physical Sensations
Coming out the Other Side of a Mental Health Crisis
We all face challenging times once in a while. I myself have had a very bad couple of weeks, worse than I’ve had in a long time. I didn’t eat for days, and I couldn’t even find peace in video games. Some days I was so anxious I couldn’t focus on anything, other days I … Continue reading Coming out the Other Side of a Mental Health Crisis
How To Start Overcoming Health Anxiety
Generalized anxiety can lead to a lot of distressing physical symptoms, which our anxious minds can easily latch onto and turn into something they’re not. Our anxiety will tell us that those chest pains mean heart problems, or that dizziness means brain tumor. Once we start down that line of thinking, we begin to be … Continue reading How To Start Overcoming Health Anxiety
Ukraine
I haven't had as much time as I'd like to write for this blog lately, but I wanted to post something considering the current events in Ukraine. First off, I want to send all my love and support to everyone affected by this crisis. Please be safe! Secondly, for those of us with the luxury … Continue reading Ukraine
5 Things You Can Do For Daily Self-Care
When we think about “self-care”, it’s easy to think about relative luxuries like taking a nice long bath, or getting take-out from our favorite restaurant. These are nice, and it’s important to do these things when we can. But self-care should be a daily practice, so we need to be a little more practical. Here … Continue reading 5 Things You Can Do For Daily Self-Care
First Impressions of Finch, the Self-Care Virtual Pet
I recently came across this app called Finch, which describes itself as your “self-care best friend.” It’s a cute cross between a CBT tool and a cute virtual pet, and I’ve found that combo to be extremely compelling for me. Though, I can understand why the aesthetic could turn a lot of people off. In … Continue reading First Impressions of Finch, the Self-Care Virtual Pet
Welcome to 2022
Well, here we are. It’s hard to believe it’s finally 2022, yet at the same time it’s hard to believe we haven’t totally passed it by. It’s definitely been a strange, scary, and lonely couple of years. 2021 was a rollercoaster of a year for me, filled with some of the highest highs and lowest … Continue reading Welcome to 2022
How Useful Are Online Anxiety Assessments?
Do a search for "Do I have anxiety?" and you'll be presented with a wide range of online self-assessments that claim to tell you if you've got an anxiety disorder. For FREE! How awesome is that? That's a great question! On some level, it depends on which assessment you do. Some are basically BuzzFeed quizzes, others … Continue reading How Useful Are Online Anxiety Assessments?
My Anxious Life 