Grief does not always begin after someone dies. Sometimes, grief begins when you realize that someone you love may not be there in the same way in the future. A serious diagnosis, a progressive illness, a major decline in someone’s health, or an expected loss can bring sadness before the loss itself
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, images, memories, or urges that can appear in your mind without warning. They can feel strange, upsetting, embarrassing, or completely different from what you normally think. When one appears, you may start wondering why you had it, what it says about you, or whether it means something
PTSD and complex PTSD can look similar, but they are not defined in exactly the same way. Both can develop after trauma and may involve unwanted memories, avoidance, feeling constantly on guard, changes in mood, and difficulty feeling safe. The difference becomes clearer when you look at how the symptoms affect a
Everyone feels uncomfortable in social situations sometimes. You might feel nervous before meeting someone new, hesitate before speaking in a group, or need a little time to warm up around people you do not know. That does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Shyness is a normal personality trait. For some people,
Your heart suddenly starts racing. Your chest feels tight. Your hands may shake. You feel dizzy, short of breath, or completely overwhelmed. For a moment, you may wonder, “What is happening to me?” If you have experienced this, you may have called it an anxiety attack or a panic attack. The two
Sometimes your mind knows you are safe, but your body does not seem to get the message. Your heart may be racing. Your shoulders may stay tense. Your stomach may feel unsettled. You may feel restless, disconnected, overwhelmed, or unable to relax even when nothing is obviously wrong. If this sounds familiar,
Becoming a parent is often described as one of the happiest moments in life. But the reality is that the postpartum period can bring a wide range of emotions, joy, love, exhaustion, fear, uncertainty, and moments of feeling completely overwhelmed. Many new parents experience emotional changes after childbirth. You may cry more
Have you ever wondered why you react so strongly in certain situations? Maybe a small disagreement suddenly feels overwhelming. Maybe you shut down during conflict even when you want to speak. Maybe you feel the need to make everyone happy, avoid upsetting people, or constantly prepare for something to go wrong. You
As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, many people notice changes in their mood, energy, and motivation. You may find yourself wanting to sleep more, avoiding social plans, feeling less productive, or struggling to enjoy things that normally bring you happiness. You may tell yourself it is just the colder weather,
Starting EMDR therapy can bring up a lot of questions. You may wonder what will happen in the first session, whether you will have to talk about painful memories right away, or what it will feel like when the actual processing begins. You may also feel nervous about doing EMDR therapy online,