Figuring It Out Was My Job: A First-Gen Cycle-Breaker on Learning She Doesn't Have to Do It Alone
Earlier this year, my new therapist asked me something I'd never thought about: who showed me how to do all of this? The answer was nobody. This is what being a first-gen cycle-breaker taught me about figuring it out, and what I'm still learning about not having to do it alone.
Perfectionism and People-Pleasing Aren't Personality Traits. They're Protection.
You check things 100 times. You say yes when you mean no. Perfectionism and people-pleasing aren’t personality traits. They’re protection, and once you understand what they’re protecting, you get to choose differently.
Why Am I Always Stressed? Understanding Your Stress Response.
You get everything done, but your shoulders never relax and your brain never goes quiet. Here’s why you feel stressed all the time, how your window of tolerance works, and simple ways to calm your nervous system.
Why High-Achieving Women Feel Anxious (Even When Life Looks Good)
Everything is getting done, so why do you still feel anxious? For many high-achieving women, this is what high-functioning anxiety looks like. Here’s where it comes from and what therapy can change.
Why It's So Hard to Feel Your Feelings (And Where to Start)
“Feel your feelings” is advice everyone gives and almost no one explains. Here’s why it feels so hard, especially if you learned to stay busy instead, and four simple steps to start.
High-Functioning Anxiety: Why Managing It Isn’t the Same as Healing
You replay conversations, can’t rest, and keep everyone else afloat. If this sounds like high-functioning anxiety, here’s where it comes from and how anxiety therapy can help you stop managing and start living.