I am surrounded by people. Yet, I often experience a profound sense of loneliness. I feel fundamentally misunderstood. It feels like being an alien in human skin. No one truly sees the real me. Everyone perceives only the carefully constructed facade. This feeling stems from the fear of vulnerability, the reluctance to share my more […]
I have a strong wish for control. I feel a need to impose order on the perceived chaos of my internal and external world. This manifests in various ways, from meticulously planning my days to obsessively organizing my surroundings. It’s an attempt to create a sense of predictability. I try to manage the anxiety that […]
There’s a strange comfort in the familiar rut. The predictable patterns and routines define my daily life. These patterns are less than ideal. They contribute to my feelings of stagnation and discontent. Yet, they offer a sense of security and predictability that change often lacks. Change, even positive change, can feel threatening. It disrupts the […]
My internal landscape is riddled with “shoulds.” A relentless chorus of expectations surrounds me. Some are self-imposed, while others are whispered by society, family, or the relentless highlight reel of social media. These dictates tell me how I “should” be living my life. They instruct how I “should” be feeling and what I “should” be […]
The world, as you have noticed, has a certain expectation of normalcy. We’re supposed to be relatively functional, emotionally stable, and generally “okay.” I aspire to these lofty ideals. But, the reality often differs significantly from the carefully curated image I show to the outside world. This requires a significant amount of energy, the constant […]
If my anxiety is the background music of my life, then my inner critic is brutally honest. It is often downright nasty. This isn’t a constructive voice offering helpful feedback. Oh no. This is a relentless, judgmental presence that delights in pointing out every flaw, every misstep, every perceived inadequacy. It’s like having a tiny, […]
My life isn’t usually punctuated by dramatic, earth-shattering crises. Instead, it’s underscored by a persistent, low-level hum of worry, a soundtrack of “what ifs” and “maybe this will go horribly wrong.” It’s like having a tiny, perpetually anxious radio station playing in the background of my mind, broadcasting a never-ending stream of potential catastrophes and […]
Off Kilter 