Why Do I Overthink My Friendships? Anxiety and Adult Relationships
Adult friendships can carry a surprising amount of anxiety. Friendship anxiety can show up when a friend takes longer than usual to respond, the tone of a text feels different, or you notice that you were not included in something. Before long, you may be reviewing the last conversation, wondering whether you said too much, […]
Emotional Safety and Anxiety in Relationships: When You’re Always Waiting for Something to Go Wrong
Anxiety can make relationships feel like something you have to constantly manage. You may find yourself paying attention to subtle changes in someone’s voice, wondering why a text feels different, or thinking through how to bring up something that bothered you without creating a bigger problem. Even when things are going well, part of you […]
When ADHD Looks Like Anxiety or Depression in Black Women
There is a conversation I find myself having often with Black women who have recently been diagnosed with ADHD. It usually begins with relief because they finally have an explanation for struggles that have followed them for years. The relief, however, doesn’t always last. It is often followed by a different question. “If this has […]
Anxiety, Scarcity, and the Exhaustion of Always Needing More
When Success Doesn’t Create Security One of the things I notice most often in my work with Black women is that anxiety rarely introduces itself as anxiety. Instead, it shows up dressed as responsibility, ambition, preparation, and productivity. The women sitting across from me are often accomplished, intelligent, and deeply committed to creating stable lives […]
Always Productive, Never Calm: Anxiety in High Achievers
When Productivity Becomes a Coping Skill A lot of high-achieving people do not realize they are anxious because their anxiety looks productive. They answer emails quickly. They stay ahead at work. They handle responsibilities. They push through exhaustion. From the outside, they often look disciplined, dependable, and successful. Internally, however, many feel like they cannot […]