Dating is anxiety-provoking regardless of whether you have ananxiety disorderor not. You’re starting a new relationship, spending time with a stranger, opening yourself up to someone new — it can be frightening for even the most secure of people. But, if you have an anxiety disorder, the anxiety that comes with dating and going on dates can be overwhelming. On a day-to-day basis you’re plagued with fears you’ll make a fool of yourself in front of someone, and now you’re at risk of being in an uncomfortable position in front of someone you want to like you....

Whenyou’re depressed, everything — from the most basic activity like getting out of bed to more arduous tasks like paying bills on time — can feel impossibly challenging. Add sudden unemployment, recently graduating from college, or undergoing a major career transition to the mix, and every day can feel like summiting Mount Everest. As someone withanxietyand depression who has personally experienced various career changes, I understand firsthand how demoralizing the job hunt can be when you’re struggling with your mental health....

Updated on 11/3/2020 Have you ever had a great weekend, only to find that around midday on Sunday (or Sunday night) you’re hit with a sense of worry or dread about the upcoming work week? If so, then you have probably experienced the “Sunday Scaries,” also known as the “Sunday blues.” This anticipatoryanxietyabout the coming week seems to be especially common these days. As a culture, we’re often overworked and underappreciated, and often we struggle to manage a balance between our work and personal lives....

Chronic illness can take many forms. Common types that I see in my practice include migraines, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia, and chronic back pain, all of which are associated withdepression. No matter what type of chronic illness you have, you are likely all too aware of the profound effects it can have on your mental health and day-to-day functioning. Although chronic illness is a massive challenge to your psychological functioning, there are some ways that you can moderate its impact on your perspective andemotional wellbeing....

Updated 3/7/2022 In middle school, one of my best friends stopped eating. Though she was a notoriously picky eater, suddenly her penchant for munching on trail mix for every meal became less quirky and more concerning as the ziplock baggies of nuts grew smaller and smaller. Exacerbating the issue, she competed in animage-basedperformance sport, in which size and appearance were paramount. One day, we were sitting in my living watching the movieCenter Stagefor the millionth time, when we reached a scene in which an aspiring ballerina battling bulimia throws up a meal in a bathroom stall....

It is fashionable to believe that finances shouldn’t have much of an impact on your mental health. According to the media, mental health should be equivalent across various socioeconomic classes. However, when you are struggling financially, it can have a very real effect on your mental and emotional functioning. Ways Finances Impact Your Mental Health No safety net Knowing that there is no financial “safety net” in place in case of an emergency is extremelystressful....

Once the dregs of February and March hit, it’s easy to look back at our starry-eyed New Year’s selves and laugh. “You thought you could lose 30 pounds this year?,” we might chuckle. “You’re dreaming.” Whether you wanted to lose weight, stop drinking, run more often, or just commit to taking your wee poodle Murphy on more walks, soon enough resolve hits reality. And sometimes, when the going gets tough, we fall off the wagon....

Making a tough decision means trusting your intuition. But how do you determine what’s actually intuition, and what’sanxiety, fear, oranger? Any number of emotions can cloud your judgment, obscuring the truth of what you want. To simplify decision-making, learn how to trust your intuition. Practice ignoring fleeting thoughts, dismissing anger and fear and choosingyourdesires — not anyone else’s. Here’s how to know what your gut wants. Learn to Differentiate “Intuition” and “Anxiety” It’s good to learn how to trust your gut, but, if you’re not careful, that gut instinct may lead to wrong turns....

At home, I’m the ideas woman. I’m full of suggestions to improve my house, streamline my schedule, and make sure I’m making the most of every ounce of free time I have. I watch Shark Tank and throw my hands in the air — you callthoseinnovations? I’m full of ideas for better ones. But atwork, in an environment that urges workers to “fail fast, fail often,” I mostly sit silently in meetings....

“Daring to set boundaries is about the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.”– Brené Brown All humans share a desire to be seen, loved, and accepted. Sometimes this longing is so strong that we sacrifice our own sense of self in hopes of receiving validation from others that we matter. Without daily rituals to help me recenter and set strong, loving boundaries, I can become lost in a sea of other people’s feelings, needs, and opinions....

Social media is fun and all, but it can make breakups alotmore complicated than they already are. Seeing pictures of your ex can feel like rubbing salt on an open wound,. Breakups come with a big set of challenges, and social media can make the whole situation even harder. We spend hours on our phones, between texting, watching YouTube videos, and using apps. I mean, just think about how much time we spend lying in bed switching between the same three apps over and over again....

In 2019, we’re more connected than ever. We’re constantly glued to our phones, addicted to texting andsocial media. We have a direct line of contact to pretty much anyone we want, anytime we want. This means that, for better or for worse, we have a direct line to contact ourexat our fingertips, 24/7. Let’s be real: Most of the time, texting your ex isnota good idea. Here are some tips for coping with post-breakuplonelinessand resisting the urge to text your ex....

Emotional affairs are non-sexual, but intense emotional actions with someone outside of a committedrelationship. They’re arguably more easily facilitated with the help of modern technology like dating apps or social networks. Unlike prior decades, those who haveaffairsdon’t only relegate themselves to people in their direct proximity (such as work), but may establish real connections with others in far away places. Emotional affairs are a type of infidelity (cheating). However, everyone has different opinions on what constitutes cheating, so there’s a lot of variation in what might be characterized as an emotional affair....

I remember being cuddled up with my ex-boyfriend one morning, trying to muster up thecourageto bring something up that was bothering me: the fact we barely texted throughout the day. Eventually, I found the nerve to ask him, “Do you still really like me?” He looked at me, confused, and said, “What!? Of course I do! Why do you ask that?” I went on to explain that I felt like I wasn’t getting enough attention from him, since I was always the one to initiate text conversations or phone calls....

“Having kids — the responsibility of rearing good, kind, ethical, responsible human beings — is the biggest job anyone can embark on. As with any risk, you have to take a leap of faith and ask lots of wonderful people for their help and guidance. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity toparent.” While parenting can be one of the most rewarding parts of the human experience, it can also be a challenge....