Anxiety

Written by Alicia Murray, LMHCD, Syracuse, NY Family gatherings are supposed to be fun. So why are you already anxious three days before the cookout? Maybe you’re rehearsing answers to questions no one has asked yet. You’re wondering whether your parent will make that comment again. You’re calculating how long you have to stay before…

written by Alicia Murray, LMHCD, Syracuse, NY A lot of people wait until anxiety feels overwhelming before considering therapy. They tell themselves they should be able to handle it. They wait for work to calm down, for the stressful situation to pass, or for their thoughts to quiet down on their own. And because they’re…

written by Alicia Murray, LMHCD, Syracuse, NY Starting therapy for anxiety can feel intimidating. For many people, reaching out for support is something they’ve considered for months or even years before making the call. You may know that anxiety is affecting your life, but still wonder: “What will therapy actually be like?” “What am I…

You tell yourself you’re just being thorough. You read another article. Listen to another podcast. Search one more thread. Compare five more opinions. Screenshot advice. Open twelve tabs. And somehow, instead of feeling clearer, you feel more anxious. Over-researching often starts as a way to feel prepared. But when it becomes compulsive, it is usually…

If you’ve caught yourself thinking, “I should be further along by now,” you’re not alone. Many adults are quietly carrying the belief that they’re behind in life. Behind in career. Behind in relationships. Behind financially. Behind emotionally. Behind compared to everyone else. This feeling often creeps in subtly. You scroll social media and see engagements,…

Written by Alicia Murray. The term “self-care” has become a go-to prescription for nearly every mental health struggle — especially for burnout, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. But if you’ve ever followed all the self-care advice, only to still feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or numb… you’re not broken. You’re human — and the problem isn’t you. It’s…

Written by Alicia Murray. You’re not imagining it — making and keeping friendships as an adult is hard. Maybe you moved to a new city, had kids, changed jobs, or simply drifted apart from the people you used to be close to. And now? You find yourself scrolling social media, seeing others with close-knit friend…

What Your Doomscrolling Habit Is Actually Telling You You don’t need to explain it — you’re just going to check one more headline, refresh one more feed, scan one more article before bed. Suddenly it’s 1am and your chest is tight, your mind is racing, and you feel even less in control than when you…

Written by Alicia Murray. We live in a world that glorifies busyness. From “rise and grind” mantras to late-night laptop sessions praised as dedication, hustle culture has convinced many of us that our worth is measured by our output. But beneath the highlight reels of productivity lies a mental health crisis that’s hard to spot…

Most people can tolerate a little uncertainty now and then — a delayed email, a surprise change of plans, a brief unknown. But when uncertainty becomes constant, your nervous system starts to sound the alarm in ways that are hard to ignore. If you’ve been feeling on edge, overwhelmed, or stuck in a loop of…

December has a way of stirring up reflection — whether we’re ready or not. Social media starts buzzing with “year in review” highlights. People talk about wins, transformations, and “best year yet” energy. And while some part of you may feel happy for them, another part might whisper: I didn’t get what I hoped for…

In the evolving field of mental health care, one of the most exciting aspects of integrating interns into clinical practice is the fresh perspective they bring. If you think therapy should be dynamic, evidence‑informed, and responsive to the complexity of modern life, interns can often excel in ways that complement seasoned clinicians. Current Training Meets…

Most people think anxiety therapy is about eliminating fear. But here’s the truth: fear isn’t always the problem — our relationship to it is. Fear is a natural, protective emotion. It’s your nervous system doing its job to keep you safe. But when fear becomes chronic, exaggerated, or disconnected from actual threat, it stops being…

We’re almost through 2025, and the economy has certainly shaped how many of us feel about ourselves, our futures, and our relationships. As therapists, we’re seeing this ripple effect in session every day—clients who once came in for anxiety or relationship support are now bringing in new layers of stress around job insecurity, financial pressure,…