High-functioning anxiety is one of those experiences that often goes unnoticed by others, and sometimes even by ourselves. On the outside, you may look composed, capable, and productive. You meet deadlines, show up for others, and seem to “have it all together.”

Many of us grew up hearing explicit or implicit messages like “Work hard, make your family proud, and don’t waste the sacrifices that were made for you.” These messages often come from love, perseverance, and cultural survival. They’re passed down through generations that endured hardship by prioritizing endurance, humility, and achievement.

But over time, these values can turn into overwhelming pressure. You may feel driven to achieve, hesitant to rest, or afraid to disappoint others, while constantly living with a quiet sense of “not enough.”

As a Somatic Internal Family Systems (Somatic IFS) practitioner, one of the most common questions I hear is:

“What is Somatic IFS and how can it help me?”

Many of my clients come to me after years of intellectualizing their problems, feeling like they understand their struggles but still feel stressed in their bodies. That’s where Somatic IFS makes a difference. It integrates the mind and the body, offering a path to healing that goes deeper than words—so you can feel lasting change from the inside out.

Many of us grew up believing that being “nice” meant saying yes, keeping the peace, and putting others’ needs first. On the surface, this looks generous and kind. But beneath the surface, people-pleasing often has less to do with kindness and more to do with fear.

So many of us feel this deep need to help, support, and care for others. This is not a bad quality, in a lot of cases it can be an absolutely good quality. However, sometimes we get so plugged into this role of giving to others that we completely deplete ourselves. Understanding the differences between empathy and responsibility can be a key step in making sure you don’t overextend and can keep being that kind caring human that you are!

If you've ever tried to meditate or take a deep breath, only to feel more anxious instead of calmer, you're not alone. For many people—especially those with anxiety—the idea of relaxing can feel uncomfortable, or even threatening. This reaction even has a name: relaxation-induced anxiety or relaxation-induced panic. It may sound counterintuitive, but it happens to people all the time.

We’ve all had moments when something we said or did didn't sit right. Maybe we snapped at someone we care about. Or forgot an important birthday. In the aftermath, two powerful emotions can show up: guilt and shame.

At first glance, they can feel similar. Both bring a heavy emotional weight. Both can trigger a desire to retreat or “fix” something. But understanding the difference between guilt and shame is essential for emotional healing and mental well-being.

In a world where the news never sleeps and updates flood our phones by the minute, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information we’re expected to process each day. From breaking headlines to trending topics, the constant stream can leave us feeling anxious, exhausted, and emotionally drained.

But here’s the truth: your brain wasn’t designed to take in this much information at once.

There’s something about being on vacation that feels so different from everyday life.
We breathe deeper.
We laugh more.
We feel (at least temporarily) free from the pressure to be productive, polished, or on top of everything.

If you experience high-functioning anxiety, you might be familiar with the feeling of always needing to be on. You’re constantly pushing yourself, overcommitting, and staying busy—because slowing down feels uncomfortable, even impossible. But what if slowing down was actually the thing that helped the most?

Take a moment to think about how you've talked to yourself today, or even in the last hour. Were you kind?

Narrative therapy is a style of counseling that focuses on individuals and communities and the stories we tell others and ourselves to understand our world including problems (Morgan, 2000).