Stress is a natural part of life, but the way we experience and respond to stress can look different from person to person. At times, you may notice yourself feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or on edge, while at other times you may feel numb, disconnected, or shut down. These responses are connected to how our nervous system responds to stress and our environment. The Window of Tolerance is a helpful framework for understanding these responses and recognizing what happens when w

There is something incredibly comforting about hearing, “I promise, it’s okay.” When you are anxious, uncertain, or stuck in your head, reassurance can feel like exactly what you need. You might text a friend and ask, “Do you think they’re mad at me?” You might ask your partner, “Are we okay?” You might replay a conversation and then ask someone else whether you said something wrong. You might even Google the same question several times, hoping that eventually you will find a

Why transitions can feel so stressful While the back to school season can be exciting, there are many stressors that come along with establishing a new routine. Changes in your schedule can be de-stabilizing as you adjust to increased responsibilities like getting up to make sure you or your child are up in time to eat breakfast, get dressed and somehow manage to make it out the front door on time. You’re not alone if you often feel the pinch as your body and mind adjust to a

Last August, I was gearing up to begin my second year of graduate school and start my clinical internship. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed, but was confident in my ability to juggle school work and internship at the same time. Shortly after the semester started and internship began, I became aware of a very important exam that I had to take in January in order to graduate from my program. For months, I was studying for the exam, all while continuing to do my school work,

Sometimes we know what we want to change, but still find ourselves repeating the same patterns. We overthink. We people-please. We avoid difficult conversations. We become overwhelmed easily. We stay busy because slowing down feels uncomfortable. It can be frustrating when you understand something intellectually but still struggle to change it. One reason may be your nervous system. Understanding Your Nervous System Your nervous system is constantly taking in information and

Grief is often associated with losing someone we love, but grief can come from many different kinds of loss. We grieve relationships that ended. Friendships that changed. Family relationships that no longer feel the same. Divorce. Changes in our health. Children growing up and leaving home. Dreams that never became reality. We can even grieve the person we used to be. Sometimes, grief arrives quietly. There may not be a funeral, a goodbye, or even a clear ending. Instead, the