Anxiety Is Normal

  We all know that feeling: the dread of being alone. We go to a party or out with friends and suddenly, we feel an emptiness inside of us. We worry that we're not interesting or likable enough to keep others around. We start to feel anxious and lonely. It's normal to feel "not quite right" about being alone. After all, humans are social animals and we're programmed to need others to survive. But what happens when you find yourself alone more often than not? How do you learn to be happy and content when there's no one else around? Not having any company or feeling disconnected emotionally from others can be scary. But what if there was a different way to look at solitude? What if it wasn't a bad thing after all? Let's discuss some tips for how to be happy when you're by yourself and ways to deal with any anxiety that may come up. Three Major Benefits of Alone Time When it comes to being happy, there are a lot of misconceptions out there. We're...

  You may be thinking, "What? Don't the crowds, parties, and 4th of July fireworks worsen anxiety symptoms?" Yes, for some. But hear me out. Anxiety often happens for one of three reasons: Your body is unconsciously responding to external or internal signals and interpreting them as threats. If your brain feels threatened enough, you may have a panic attack, even if you're at home and somewhere perfectly safe. This is the physical/biological aspect of anxiety that's the most difficult to manage. Your thoughts are spiraling because you're worried about what might happen in the future and only focusing on bad scenarios. You're fixating on the past—past mistakes, past traumas, past bad situations (again, only focusing on the bad). The 4th of July is a great opportunity to get out of those headspaces. In fact, data actually shows that anxiety dips when interest in the 4th of July goes up . So, why is that? Let's explore how planning (and looking forward...

There's so much in life that we can't control, but our own happiness isn't one of them. Being happy with who you are is essential for leading a fulfilling life. You need to love yourself before anyone else can love you properly. Sounds easy, right? Well, it often takes time and practice, especially if you've been dealing with anxiety, stress, or struggling with self-worth most of your life. But it's so worth it to get to a place where you're more content and able to view yourself as someone who is worth it (because you are). So, how can you be happy with yourself? Unlike what the popular memes suggest, it takes time and consistency to undo all the self-defeating patterns that collect over the years. The good news? Now is the best time to start. Below are a few starting points. 1. Only compare yourself to yourself. One of the quickest ways to become unhappy is to compare yourself to others. In the seas of social media posts, you can always find someone who is do...