Articles on Anxiety from Firefly Therapy Austin. We hope these articles help your journey. We encourage you to contact our therapists if you’d like additional support.
You’re driving across a bridge when suddenly you imagine swerving off the edge. You’re holding your newborn, and a terrifying thought flashes through your mind about dropping them. You’re standing near a tall building and picture yourself jumping, even though you have no desire to hurt yourself. If you’ve experienced moments like these, you’re not…
It’s Tuesday afternoon. You’re at your desk, staring at your computer screen, when that thought shows up again: “There has to be something more than this.” Maybe it’s been months since you first questioned whether your current career still fits. Perhaps it’s been years. Either way, you are stuck between wanting something different and feeling…
You know someone who seems unshakeable. Maybe your coworker gets passed over for a promotion and bounces back with a better opportunity. Or your friend who handles family drama without falling apart. You might think they were born with thicker skin. But brain science tells a different story. Some people handle stress better than others…
Do you feel emotions much more intensely than the people around you? Perhaps you’ve been told you’re “too sensitive” or that you need to “toughen up.” We need to challenge what society teaches us about feeling. Acknowledging your feelings isn’t a weakness; it’s a core component of emotional intelligence. In fact, people who experience emotions…
Your friend Sarah just texted to say that dinner plans have been canceled. Do you start spiraling about your ruined evening, or do you think, “Great, now I can try that new recipe I’ve wanted to make”? That difference? It’s called cognitive (or psychological) flexibility, which might be the most important mental skill you didn’t…
In a world that often demands more than we can comfortably give, the body can shift into a state of hypervigilance—a constant sense of alertness and readiness to react. This is a survival response, rooted in our nervous system, but when it becomes chronic, it can feel exhausting, overwhelming, and difficult to shift out of….
Anxiety can sneak up on you in everyday moments or feel like a heavy cloud that never quite lifts. It can show up as racing thoughts, trouble breathing, a tight chest, or a sense that something bad is about to happen. For some, it builds up into panic attacks—those sudden, intense waves of fear that…
Do you find yourself avoiding certain situations or conversations? Overcoming avoidant behavior can be challenging, but with persistence and effort, progress is possible. In this article, we will explore steps you can take to overcome or ease your avoidant behavior. Recognizing and acknowledging avoidance is the first step to resolving it. Identifying the root causes…
Perfectionism can be exhausting. The constant pressure to get everything just right can leave you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and never quite satisfied. Even when things go well, perfectionists often find themselves focusing on the one thing that didn’t. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And the good news is that perfectionism isn’t something you’re…
Managing anxiety and depression at work can be overwhelming. The stress of deadlines, expectations, and daily interactions can make it even harder to focus and stay motivated. If you’ve ever felt anxious before a meeting or struggled to get through the workday while battling depression, you’re not alone. Many people face these challenges, and there…