Autumn Anxiety: Why October and November Can Feel Heavier (And What Actually Helps)
Why anxiety spikes in autumn and which CBT and ACT strategies actually work when daylight fades and year-end pressure builds.
Why anxiety spikes in autumn and which CBT and ACT strategies actually work when daylight fades and year-end pressure builds.
Every Sunday around 5pm, something in my chest used to tighten. Nothing bad had happened. Nothing bad was actually happening. But my body had already started rehearsing Monday—the emails waiting, the meetings lined up, the small uncertainties about how the week would unfold. It took me longer than I would like to admit to learn … Read more
A client once told me, almost apologetically, that she felt lonelier lying next to her husband than she ever had living alone in her twenties. She expected me to be surprised. I wasn’t. Relational loneliness — that specific ache of being physically close to someone while feeling emotionally unreachable to them — is one of … Read more
I was eleven the first time I talked my mother down from a panic attack, and by thirteen I had a mental map of which of my father’s moods meant I should get my younger brother out of the house. Nobody sat me down and assigned me this role. I just became the one who … Read more
The buzz of my phone against the kitchen counter used to make my chest tighten before I’d even checked who was calling — because if it was my mother and I let it ring out, I already knew my whole day would be spent managing the fallout. We talked every single day, I ran nearly … Read more
A couple I worked with once apologized for having a fight in front of me during a session, as if the conflict itself was evidence of failure. I remember the wife looking embarrassed, the husband’s jaw tight with frustration. I told them what I have come to believe after sixteen years of listening to people … Read more
Your brain, much like any other muscle in your body, thrives on exercise. You likely have a routine for your physical health. However, many people neglect to train their most vital organ. Consistent mental stimulation can build cognitive reserves. This helps your brain become more adaptable and resilient against age-related decline. Fortunately, you do not … Read more
I don’t have children. I’ve never changed a nappy, negotiated screen time, or sat through a parents’ evening. So when I first picked up Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gabor Maté and Gordon Neufeld, I approached it with the kind of curiosity you reserve for books … Read more
I first heard about Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry approach during a particularly difficult year. A friend kept mentioning it in conversations about therapy, about why she kept repeating the same patterns, about why her therapist kept asking questions instead of giving advice. I was curious—and, if I’m honest, a little skeptical. Could a method that … Read more
Marriage is a complex journey, filled with shared joys and inevitable challenges. Unfortunately, not all partnerships withstand the tests of time. Understanding the reasons behind marital dissolution can provide valuable insight for couples everywhere. While every relationship is unique, researchers have identified several common themes that frequently lead to divorce. These issues often overlap, creating … Read more