Humanity is (mostly) made up of moral, sensitive, and compassionate beings. We love big-eyed baby animals. We love gazing at waterfalls. We hate global pandemics that keep us from hanging out with our friends. And, of course, we hate reading again and again about the imminent destruction of our homes…
I’m stuck in four lanes of traffic for the next two miles. It’s late July in Texas, and not a single car is moving. It’s 93 degrees outside, plus 70% humidity to top things off. Sweating, frustrated, and frankly quite angry, I lean into my car horn, uttering a few…
We’ve all seen the articles about smartphone addiction and how being glued to an iPhone screen for hours a day can cause sleep deprivation, depression, and FOMO. But this blog is about a more analog phenomenon, one that dates back to Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, the voice call. Terrifying. …
What memories are at the forefront when you think back on your pandemic year? Maybe you really got into home workouts, started to bake bread, and found some deep cuts on Netflix you’d never have discovered otherwise. In some ways, maybe it wasn’t so bad for you. But for many…
For years, I experienced unwanted thoughts. I’ll spare you the gruesome details, but chances are, you or someone you love knows just how bad the mind can get. In fact, we know a lot more than ever before the kinds of pain people are going through. To take some examples: The online…
Question: I’m having panic attacks and I’m not sure if I can repair my relationship with my boyfriend after he lied to me about having a 1 year old son and I am uncomfortable with his relationship with his child’s mother. I don’t want to break up with him, but…
Many of us take care of our physical health without thinking twice about it: We eat and we exercise; we stretch and relax; we moisturize dry skin and apply sunscreen; and we consult a doctor when we feel physically ill or hurt. But when it comes to our mental and…
Stress can be defined as something that is under an uncomfortable amount of pressure. In this case, that something is a someone and it’s you! And you’re tired of it. But now what? What can you do to slow down this stress? The following have worked well for clients of…
Becoming a new parent is hard for anyone. There are so many unknowns and new lessons that come along with having a baby: Will they sleep okay? Are they eating enough? What does that cry mean? Is their crib safe enough? What do I do when I go back to…
Today, new moms understand that they may experience “the baby blues” and maybe even postpartum depression. These are two very real possibilities that they prepare for. But there’s another common condition that new moms develop after having a baby that is less talked about: postpartum anxiety. While it’s normal to…
It’s in our nature to worry, to think about all that could go wrong. Sometimes, though, we obsess over these possibilities—especially during times of uncertainty like COVID-19. Many (if not most) of us feel like our jobs are at stake. We feel as if we could get fired or let go at…
Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hi, my name is Caitlyn Patey. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Thriveworks in Chesterfield, Virginia. The question I’ll be answering today is, “What are the symptoms of anxiety?” So to start with, it’s important to note that anxiety can manifest…
