Do you often find yourself getting into bed with every intention of drifting off to sleep, but instead, you are bathed in the blue light of your phone, swiping through a never-ending stream of bad news, political outrage, and global crises? You can feel your chest tightening and your jaw clenching, yet your thumb keeps sliding over the screen for the next post.

Most people are familiar with the feeling of anxiety during a stressful event, but there is a specific, often more exhausting type of dread that happens before the event even arrives. This is anticipatory anxiety. It is the “waiting for the other shoe to drop” feeling. It is not just a brief moment of nerves, but a sustained period of mental rehearsal during which the brain treats a future possibility as a current reality.

The holidays are often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. Yet for many people, this season brings more stress than peace. If you have ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed when everyone else seems perfectly content, you are not alone. Holiday anxiety is common, and understanding what drives it can help you navigate this time of year with more compassion and clarity.

Most people worry about their health from time to time. Googling symptoms, wondering if a cough is just a cough, or double-checking that weird mole are all normal behaviors. But when worry becomes constant, intrusive, or overwhelming, it may be more than everyday concern. It may be illness anxiety disorder, previously known as hypochondria.

There is no question that life seems just a little bit easier when you are a kid. You have someone looking after you and do not have as many responsibilities, such as worrying about things like money, a career, and a family of your own to care for.

There is often a greater overlap between ADHD and anxiety than most people realize. Dealing with ADHD and anxiety as a woman can create even more challenges as you try to navigate that overlap while maintaining a high quality of life.

You have probably seen and heard the word “adulting” in memes for years. Maybe you have even used it in a joking manner, yourself, suggesting that you do not want to “adult” on a certain day when it would have been easier to stay in bed. While we have turned the phrase into something meme-worthy, it is really a word that can trigger a lot of fear and anxiety in some.

As the political climate intensifies, you may grapple with unprecedented anxiety levels. The constant barrage of alarming headlines and heated debates can make you anxious, frustrated, and overwhelmed.

Most people recognize the basic need for sleep when it comes to their physical well-being. It gives the body time to repair itself, provides immune system support, and so much more. Even if you go just one night without getting enough sleep, you are likely to feel some physical repercussions the next day.

To say we are living in a tense political climate would likely be an understatement. It can be good to stay informed on what is happening in the political world. After all, it impacts your day-to-day life and can potentially change the future of our country.

Feeling concerned about an upcoming event or situation, or even focusing on the “what ifs” of what the future might hold isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But, when those negative thoughts and worries start to take over, it can lead to anticipatory anxiety.

Have you noticed your anxiety levels dropping when you have the chance to step away from technology for a few days? Maybe you feel especially calm when you are hiking or camping.