Calmly Coping

In this episode, I spoke with Dr. J.J. Kelly, Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Emotional Intelligence Skills Training Expert & Consultant. In this episode, we discuss Dr. J.J.'s unorthodox approach to treating mental health, including the importance of emotional intelligence and what it is, how to deal with oppression in the mental health system, and how you can improve your mental health by learn...

Do you feel anxious and overwhelmed when things don't go according to plan? Do you find yourself wanting to plan out every little detail, and feel uncomfortable letting go of control? Anxiety can result in behaviors such as feeling a need for control, especially in situations that provoke fear and anxiety. Whether it is controlling your environment, the people around you, or the way things are don...

It's common to feel misunderstood when you have high-functioning anxiety. First of all, not many people know or understand what it is. And second of all, because your struggles are hidden within you, people may not recognize what is really going on for you under the surface, making it difficult for them to know or understand your experience. In today's episode, we're diving into how to cope with f...

When you're a high-achiever, you can often feel like you can and should do it all. And when you combine that with having high-functioning anxiety, it can feel scary to ask for help because you don't want to appear incompetent, and you don't want to burden or inconvenience others. If this sounds like you: you're not alone. In this episode, I'm diving into what to do when it's hard for you to ask fo...

Do you avoid phone calls, small talk, public speaking, or other social situations because you feel anxious? If so, how do you know whether or not you might have social anxiety, and whether or not it is high-functioning? In this episode, I'll share the signs and symptoms of social anxiety and high-functioning social anxiety, along with tips for how you can cope with it so you can feel more confiden...

When you're often stuck in your head overthinking things, it can be really hard to be present in your life. Even when you finally sit down to take a break or relax, it can feel as though the thoughts just show up even more , making it hard to fully experience your life. Maybe you feel like it's hard to be fully present with friends, family members, or colleagues because of the inner monologue that...

Social media and being perpetually connected have become pervasive parts of our society that are inevitably impacting our mental health as a whole… and this probably includes you too. In this episode, I'll be talking about how social media influences HFA and what you can do about it, in addition to insights learned from my experience taking a 45-day break from Instagram.   In this episode, you wil...

About 50-60% of the population has experienced at least one trauma in their lives. Trauma can have short-term and long-term effects on your mental health. What are the signs and symptoms of trauma? Is high-functioning anxiety linked to trauma? And if so, what can you do about it? That's what I'll be discussing in today's episode.   In this episode, you will learn: What trauma is and common respons...

High-functioning anxiety isn't just "the way you are." It's possible to get to a point where the fear, anxiety, and insecurity no longer run your life and you can feel calm, balanced, and confident from within. In this beginner's guide to high-functioning anxiety, you will learn the basics about high-functioning anxiety to get you started on your healing journey.   In this episode, you will learn:...

In this episode, I spoke with Dr. Jessie Hehmeyer, the physician founder of Well Empowered where she practices data-driven, outcome-oriented Functional Medicine. In this episode, we discuss how you can improve your lifestyle and nutrition to positively benefit your health and/or weight loss goals with a root-cause, natural medicine approach. Dr. H created Well Empowered with one commitment in mind...

So many of the high-achievers I work with are amazing at doing well when it comes to their work, but struggle when it comes to ACTUALLY sticking to the healthy habits they want to create for themselves. It becomes oh so easy to relegate these habits to the back-burner, and to feel frustrated when you feel motivated for one week and then lose that spark the next one. In this episode, we'll be talki...

In this episode I'm speaking with Nikki Eisenhauer, a Professional Psychotherapist, International Life Coach, Yoga Teacher, and Host of the podcast, Emotional Badass: Where Moxie Meets Mindful. In 2017, she launched the podcast to spread healing, empowerment, and hope to Highly Sensitive People (HSPs), Empaths, survivors, and seekers all over the world. Drawing from her personal experiences as a s...

Self-compassion means treating yourself with kindness, love, and concern, especially when you are struggling. When you have high-functioning anxiety, it is all too common to have a strong inner critic: that harsh inner voice that beats you up and puts you down. The problem is that this harsh inner critic only makes you feel worse and more anxious. In this episode, I'll share how self-compassion is...

Somewhere along the way, you may have learned to associate stress and anxiety with success and accomplishment. A perfect example is taking a test at school. You may have learned that in order to do well, you have to study for hours, put tons of pressure on yourself, and you probably felt stressed and anxious as a result because doing well was important to you. Many people with high-functioning anx...

Have you been trying ALL the things to manage your high-functioning anxiety and nothing seems to work? Maybe you have tried journaling, meditation, exercise, practicing more self-care… and it helps in the short-term but your anxiety, self-doubt, and tendencies to overcommit yourself just keep happening over and over again? You're not alone. This is the cycle that used to happen for me and so many...

In this episode with Lia Garvin, we discuss ways to reframe your mindset to get unstuck, how to manage difficult situations in the work environment, how to deal with imposter syndrome and perfectionism, and so much more! If you can relate to any of these struggles, I definitely think you will find this episode helpful and informative. Lia is the author of UNSTUCK: Reframe Your Thinking to Free You...

This concept might seem counterintuitive because how can struggling with high-functioning anxiety be considered a strength? But if there's one thing I've noticed from my experience in supporting many clients and students who have high-functioning anxiety, it's that they all have amazing strengths that they might not even recognize. And if you're tuning into this episode, I think that applies to yo...

Do you struggle with disconnecting from work and your responsibilities when it comes time to unwind and relax? Do you find yourself up at 2am worrying, as well as feeling the pressure to check your work email at all hours of the day? If it's difficult for you to actually relax and have time for yourself and with your loved ones worry-free, then keep tuning in. In this episode, I'll share practical...

What does it mean to feel mentally free? It's about feeling free from the shackles of fear, anxiety, overthinking, and worrying. It means having clarity in your mind, feeling present in the moment, and letting go of the thoughts that are weighing you down and keeping you stuck. And when you have high-functioning anxiety, it is so common to be stuck in overthinking and overworking, and feeling drai...

It can be really hard to NOT care about what other people think of you. We are social creatures who have survived as a result of cooperation. That's why it can feel so important to be liked and accepted by others, because we have evolved to understand that a lack of connection can make it harder to survive. But what if you care TOO much what other people think, to the point of overthinking social...

I used to be the poster child for high-functioning anxiety: riddled with anxiety, self-doubt, worries, difficulty relaxing, and more on the inside, while on the outside to others I appeared to be calm, successful, and hardworking. It has been a LONG journey to where I am now, but I can say with absolute certainty that there are many things I had to quit doing in order to let go of high-functioning...

Your environment can have a big impact on your mental health. And when you're a busy high-achiever, it can be challenging to find time to clean and declutter (which is a form of self-care). In this podcast episode, you will learn simple cleaning and decluttering tips to help improve your mental health from Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner. Angela Brown is the host of the Ask A House Cleaner podc...

The word "should" can carry so many emotions and expectations along with it. I used to live in a world of "should"ing all over myself and see it in so many of my clients when they first start meeting with me. The problem with coming from a place of "should" is that it puts undue pressure and expectations on yourself and/or others that can oftentimes just contribute to MORE stress and anxiety. In t...

The unconscious mind, sometimes referred to as the subconscious, is the part of the mind which is inaccessible to the conscious mind but which affects behavior and emotions. Many times there are deep-rooted beliefs, fears, and past difficult and traumatic experiences that may be unconsciously affecting your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. In this episode, I'll be discussing what might be lying...

How much of your self-worth is tied to the work you do, the type of career you have, how much money you make, your accomplishments, and more?  When your worth is tied to your work, you can be stuck in the up and down yoyo-ing that occurs when things go up and down at work.  This is also something that is common in those with high-functioning anxiety, because of the focus on productivity, perfectio...