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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

Anxiety can disrupt daily life in many ways, sometimes even manifesting as physical symptoms. When someone with anxiety feels particularly nervous or stressed, their body may respond with tension, leading to muscle spasms or involuntary jerks. These are commonly known as “anxiety tics” or, more precisely, “anxiety twitches.” In this…

Most of us know how our stomachs can turn and cold sweat can break out when we start to get anxious. But when that uncomfortable tension builds, anxiety nausea—nausea caused by our physical reaction to feeling anxious—may develop. Learn the bodily effects of anxiety nausea, what immediate steps you can…

While it is possible to overshare in therapy, therapy is a time and setting where oversharing is usually appropriate, welcomed, and helpful. That’s because the more details a client shares about their experiences and feelings, the more a therapist can gain insight into who they are and help guide them…

Anxiety in teens is a pervasive mental health issue that can manifest in many ways and significantly affect teens’ daily lives. Because anxiety can have such an impact on teens’ mental health and their ability to function, it’s important to get it diagnosed and treated. Outside of therapeutic or psychiatric…

Though panic attacks are intense and can be debilitating, there are many ways to cope with and even prevent them before they reach their peak.  Their intensity and quick onset can make them difficult to de-escalate—especially without effective coping strategies. However, with the right treatment and helpful coping skills, people…

Anxiety is a natural part of life, but when anxiety goes beyond standard stress or fear, it can have a negative impact on life and relationships. Those with untreated anxiety might withdraw from or get irritable with their friends, and anxious parents might model fears and worries to their children. …

We all have our fears, but sometimes they can be disproportionately intense, no matter how dangerous the situation actually is. In these cases, we might not have the tools to manage them on our own, the feelings of fear being too overwhelming to function. One such fear, or phobia, that…