We often expect depression and anxiety to show up during clearly difficult moments—loss, trauma, crisis. But many people are surprised when their mental health begins to shift during transitions that are supposed to be “normal” or even positive. These are often the moments when all the shoulds  show up. And as I like to say: don’t should yourself. I frequently hear clients say: “Nothing bad happened… so why do I feel like this? ” And the truth is: change itself is stressful f

The new year is supposed to feel hopeful, right? Fresh start, clean slate, "new year, new you." But if you're dealing with anxiety, January can feel less like a beginning and more like a spotlight on everything you haven't accomplished, every resolution you've already broken, and every way you feel like you're falling behind. If anxiety feels heavier right now than it did in December, you're not alone—and you're not imagining it. Here's why the new year can actually intensify