Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a mental health condition that involves persistent and excessive worry about many aspects of daily life. Unlike situational anxiety, which usually has a clear trigger, GAD can feel more constant and diffuse. A person with GAD may worry about work, school, health, relationships, finances, or the future even when there is no immediate reason to expect a negative outcome.

Trauma doesn't look the same for everyone. Some people experience a single devastating event. Others endure trauma that stretches across months or years. Both types leave their mark, but they may affect you differently.

Many people wonder if their struggles with focus, restlessness, or forgetfulness mean they have ADHD. This disorder can have a big impact on people’s academic, professional, and social lives. Understanding the core symptoms and knowing what steps to take next can help bring clarity.

College represents one of life’s biggest and most exciting transitions, but many students experience anxiety during this time. Whether you’re applying to colleges or already navigating campus life, understanding why college triggers anxiety can help you develop effective coping strategies.

Complex trauma happens when harmful or unsafe experiences occur repeatedly over time, often starting in childhood. Instead of one clear moment, it is a pattern. Common causes include ongoing abuse, neglect, domestic violence, alcoholism, or growing up in a chronically unstable environment. Because it happens during critical developmental years, complex trauma shapes how people see themselves, others, and the world.

Counseling does not take away pain or erase fatigue, but it changes how people respond to them. By working with a therapist, individuals can learn to separate their sense of identity from their illness. This distinction is important because it allows room for growth, joy, and meaning outside of the limitations of symptoms.

Burnout and depression rarely show up out of nowhere. They often grow out of a web of stressors that pile up. Untangling what’s fueling your distress can help you begin to name it—and eventually, reshape it. Understanding the difference matters because while burnout and depression share similar symptoms, they come from different places and may need different approaches to healing.

Dating while managing a chronic illness will never be easy, but by being honest, setting boundaries, taking care of your emotional well-being, and seeking professional support, you can build strong relationships that honor both your health and your desire for love.

A quarter-life crisis refers to a period of anxiety, self-doubt, and confusion that usually occurs in your mid-20s to early 30s. It is a time when you may feel unsure about your career, relationships, or life goals.

Perfectionism is often seen as a positive trait. However, it can become a major source of anxiety. Perfectionists often set unrealistically high standards for themselves, believing that anything less than perfect is a failure. This mindset can lead to intense anxiety, self-doubt, and a constant fear of disappointing others.

ADHD can affect many aspects of a person’s life, and the workplace is no exception. From maintaining focus during long meetings to keeping track of multiple tasks, planning and organizing projects, managing ADHD at work can present unique challenges. However, with the right strategies in place, people with ADHD can not only succeed in the workplace but thrive.

Chronic illnesses, visible or invisible, affect every aspect of life. Dealing with pain, fatigue, and the uncertainty of symptoms can lead to feelings of frustration, sadness, and even hopelessness.

Moving back in with your parents as an adult is a life transition that can stir up a variety of emotions. You might feel a sense of loss over your independence or struggle with being treated like a child again.

Living with a chronic illness can be physically draining, but it also affects mental health in ways that are often overlooked. Constant physical discomfort and limitations can lead to feelings of frustration, sadness, and even hopelessness. The stress of managing symptoms, appointments, and treatment can also be overwhelming, further exacerbating anxiety and depression.

Depression is a complex condition that affects mood and brain function. It can cause chemical imbalances, structural changes, and cognitive impairments that make it harder to manage emotions and complete daily tasks. Therapy provides essential tools and strategies that help rewire the brain's neural pathways, offering long-term skills for managing depression that extend far beyond symptom relief to create lasting emotional resilience and personal growth.

Exposure and Response Prevention is a powerful tool for managing OCD, and while it may feel difficult at first, with time and persistence, it can lead to lasting change.

ADHD in adulthood makes mundane tasks difficult to navigate. With the right strategies, such as establishing routines, setting achievable goals, and seeking professional support, adults with ADHD can live a more successful life. Whether you were diagnosed with ADHD in childhood or if you are getting diagnosed now as an adult, ADHD therapy for adults will make a difference in managing symptoms and improving your mental health.

For BIPOC individuals, it is essential to work with a therapist who understands their experiences. Historical trauma, discrimination, and cultural differences often shape mental health, and these factors should be acknowledged in therapy.

Anxiety can make moments feel incredibly overwhelming, but mindfulness practices offer ways to regain control. Mindfulness helps you tune into the present moment instead of getting lost in your thoughts.

Depression is a common mental health condition. People experience sadness or low mood, irritability, and low self-esteem. Individuals also may notice changes in how they think, sleep, eat and engage with partners, friends, and at work. There are several different types of depressive disorders. The important piece to remember is that depression is treatable.

The effects of generational trauma are not always apparent. They can show up as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, emotional distance, or even physical ailments that are linked to emotional stress. These signs often go unnoticed because they may seem like normal reactions to everyday life, not realizing they stem from long-standing family or cultural wounds.

Recognizing the signs of anxiety in teens and providing early intervention can help prevent more mental health challenges down the road.

Teal is a clinical social worker in our Austin, TX office. She provides therapy in person as well as online to residents of Texas, Colorado, and Wisconsin.

It is normal to feel a range of emotions after a job loss. Shock, sadness, frustration, and even anger are common reactions. If you are experiencing feelings of depression after losing your job, it is important to acknowledge these emotions and take steps to regain your balance.