Blog — anxiety

The Fawn Stress Response: What It Is and How It Drives People-Pleasing 0

There are more automatic stress responses than just fight-or-flight. Learn about the fawn stress response — the automatic nervous system reaction that shows up as compulsive people-pleasing, boundary avoidance, and prioritizing others’ needs to reduce perceived threat.

The Freeze Stress Response: Why You Go Deer in the Headlights 0

An explanation of the freeze stress response—how the nervous system shuts down or immobilizes under stress and trauma, why it happens, and examples of what it can look like in everyday life.

Facing Challenges: 8 Stress Resilience Strategies with Inspiring Quotes 0

Life throws curveballs—some small, some life-altering. Resilience helps you cope with everyday stress, overcome obstacles, and face tough challenges with strength and adaptability.

This post shares eight practical strategies to support you through difficult times. Each one is paired with resilience tips and motivational quotes—many featured in shareable graphics for an extra boost of encouragement.

You’ll also find links to resources designed to help you turn these strategies into action, with step-by-step guidance for navigating hardship and managing stress.

Let’s dive into these inspiring words of wisdom, tips, and tools to help you regroup, reset, and be ready to face what comes next.

Silver Lining Series of Workbooks, Journals, and Planners 0

Through my work as a counselor, I’ve seen firsthand what helps people build resilience, improve relationships, and create positive change in their lives. I bring that experience into my writing, creating resources that are both self-help (for individuals) and helper-help (for professionals like therapists, teachers, and group leaders).

Whether you're working through anxiety, exploring emotional intelligence, or simply looking for a better way to track your to-dos, these workbooks, journals, and planner provide structured support for real-life challenges.

100 Overcoming Challenges and Adversity Quotes to Lift You Up 0

To help you deal with the stress without losing your mind or ruining your relationships, I put together a compilation of 100+ positive inspiring quotes for navigating challenges, adversity, and obstacles thrown in your path.

I've divided the quotes into topics to make them more digestible, added graphics to boost the inspiration, and include a section of tools and how-to steps for facing and overcoming life's challenges. 

Hopefully, one or more of these encouraging quotes from a wide range of people will spur you on and lift you up during hard times. 

What Is Mental Filtering? Exposing This Cognitive Distortion 0

Mental filtering is one of the most common cognitive distortions, impacting your outlook by causing a hyperfocus on the negative while ignoring the positive.

If you've ever allowed one small piece of constructive criticism to overshadow lots of positive feedback for a job well done, that’s an example of the mental filter cognitive distortion.

Let’s explore what mental filtering is, its effects, and practical ways to counteract it.