Postpartum anxiety, devastating prenatal diagnosis: What to expect when parenthood isn’t what you expected
The thing is, no one really knows what you should expect, when you’re expecting. More often than not, the things you experience as a parent are not what you expected. Sometimes they’re beautiful. Sometimes things are not so wonderful — Postpartum Anxiety. A devastating prenatal diagnosis. An abortion… So, what do you do when pregnancy or parenthood isn’t what you expected?
How I hacked my anxiety with my iPhone
So much of my time is taken up by worrying about the time, that I can barely do anything else. I work, anxiety-ridden, with one eye on the clock. I don’t dare make other plans on days I already have plans, lest I lose track of time. And my heart is beating hard and fast for hours on end. Then my therapist gave me a suggestion in helping with my timing anxiety, and, after giving it a lot of time to see if it worked, I can honestly say IT HAS BEEN THE BEST THING EVER!
Am I the only consciousness among the flapping meat sacks? The Escalating Volume of Existential Terror
Sometimes, my partner Zack and I do not understand each other. This makes sense, given the complexity and inexact nature of language; I would go so far as to say it is part of The Human Condition. But there’s a particular misunderstanding that we have that I have also seen other people have. I call it “The Escalating Volume of Existential Terror.”
Facing my own mortality inspired me to stop making excuses and start running
I am a mother, a wife, an individual, a runner, a crappy cleaner with a pretty messy house, I like to read, and write…. But what have I really done with that lately? What makes my life enjoyable and worth living? That evening, upon returning home, I thought of a million excuses why I should just go inside and call it a night, but I made a different choice.
Time hack: How I stopped being an obsessive clock-checker (and why you should, too)
For some reason, watching the minute hand inch toward a deadline doesn’t help me get the work done faster, but it does make me more anxious; who would have guessed? If you think you may be an obsessive, subconscious clock-checker, I highly recommend you conduct your own experiment.
How do you have confidence at work when you’re dealing with depression?
I’m going back to school to become a leader in the nonprofit sector. I also deal with depression and anxiety. I’m learning more about how to manage my symptoms, but I sometimes have bad days. For those of you who deal with mental health situations, how do you find the confidence to realize your leadership potential in the workplace?
How can I overcome the dread of moving?
In a month I’m moving from a small town in Michigan to Washington DC. I’m moving with my best friend, and we have a great place picked out. I’m finally moving out of my parents and becoming an adult! The thing is I’m freaking terrified. How can I get over my fear of leaving and just let myself enjoy this change or at least relax a little?
There is a certain joy in ritual
While at face value, following a specific set of actions may seem difficult or complicated, the reason it works is because, in actuality, the rituals make life more simple. Simplicity during the times I feel most sensitive to worry is like a little gift to myself, the gift of certainty. There are so many times in a day that I worry about what’s next. When I know exactly what is going to happen next, I don’t worry about it. Reducing worry in my life is one of my major goals in my search for personal serenity.