Mental health is JUST as important as physical health. Period!

Many high-functioning anxious people experience a sense of RELIEF rather than joy or celebration when achieving some sort of success. The win was just seen as an “obligation”—not something worthy of recognizing or enjoying. This mindset ends up moving a person closer and closer to burnout!

Challenge the voice that says you have to be relentlessly hard on yourself. Shame never produces lasting positive change. You are worthy of a kind and compassionate inner dialogue!

Anxiety hates uncertainty. The discomfort you feel when you don’t have certainty or control over a situation drives much of your overthinking, worrying, and ruminating. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now to be OK. You are SAFE, even when some uncertainty is present!

People pleasing actually has very little to do with just “wanting to being liked”. It’s often a deeply engrained trauma response where you learned that you had to abandon yourself and become hyper-vigilant about someone else’s needs in order to stay safe. 

Worrying isn’t actually solving the problem. It’s PRACTICING the problem again and again, until you spiral with anxiety.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you don’t have to feel guilty for limiting your time consuming the news. You can stay informed and still protect your mental health!

Anxiety hates uncertainty. This is why you might be self-sabotaging — sometimes it feels safer to “take control” and hurriedly create an ending that removes the uncertain outcome than it does to sit with the discomfort of living in the unknown.

When they call you selfish, but you’ve been a people pleaser your whole life and finally setting boundaries just feels really good.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but intellectualizing your feelings and trying to “figure them out” isn’t the same as actually feeling them. In fact, all that intellectualizing might actually be a subconscious form of emotional avoidance!

People-pleasers usually started off as parent-pleasers. We often learn this pattern of prioritizing others’ needs at the expense of our own as children and bring it with us to adulthood.

Have you ever felt like there was a lump in your throat from your anxiety? This is called Globus sensation and can make it temporarily feel difficult to swallow or like there’s tightness or pressure in your throat. Some with anxiety experience this often, while others never experience it at all.

Say what you want about overthinkers, but we are some of the kindest people you’ll meet. We have our flaws, but not caring enough is not one of them!

Anxiety can look like trying desperately to appease or please someone else because the idea of experiencing their power, control, or anger doesn’t feel safe. This is called a “fawning” trauma response.

Hormonal fluctuations can be a common cause of increased anxiety! You may find that your anxiety is higher during certain times of your cycle, during pregnancy or postpartum, or during perimenopause or menopause. Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about this. You don’t have to suffer alone!

You can’t THINK your way out of anxiety. Yes you can work to change your thinking habits during times of calm, but that’s near impossible to do when you’re already highly anxious. When you’re in an anxious state, focus on bringing a sense of safety to your body/nervous system instead. Try this: ⬇️

Hello Bluesky!! Work your magic and connect me with my anxious peeps. I need a tribe over here that’s passionate about destigmatizing mental health and also enjoys a little humor too!