According to MindBodyGreen, anxious attachment is defined as “a type of insecure attachment style rooted in a fear of abandonment and an insecurity of being underappreciated.”

Anxious attachment can manifest itself in many ways. In my past relationships, I’ve seen my own anxious attachment most prominently when I do something wrong or see my partner experiencing negative emotions. I used to always be on high alert, looking for signs of annoyance or distress from my boyfriend. I would ask “What’s wrong?” several times a day, and I would never believe him when he said nothing.

When I was dating my…

Eight months ago, on a sunny Saturday in the summer, my mom was hit by a car. Devastated, sad, confused, and in shock, I boarded a plane to my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, in the middle of a global pandemic to be with my father, who had become a widower just twelve hours earlier. In my arms, I clutched Hot Pocket, my squishy stuffed Koala. Yes, I, a 24-year-old adult, carried a children’s stuffed animal through an airport with absolutely no shame.

In the weeks following my mom’s death, Hot Pocket was my greatest comfort. He was never bothered…

I have had anxiety for most of my life, and I have tried a lot of anxiety reduction techniques. Essential oils, meditation, stress-relief tea, weighted blankets, ashwagandha supplements, “chill” gummies, CBD, and of course, prescription medication. It’s become sort of a hobby of mine. So when I started reading about binaural beats, I was intrigued.

I first discovered binaural beats on the app, Atmosphere, which I use to play rain or ocean sounds as I fall asleep. It has a section for “Binaural & Isochronic,” which has several different sound options. You can choose an 8.6 Hz beat for stress…

When I was young, I used to make wishes on everything. I wished on shooting stars, eyelashes, rainbows, consecutive numbers on the clock. At 11:11 every day, I would close my eyes and think, “I wish to be happy.”

And isn’t that everyone’s wish? We go through life looking for our purpose, looking for our soul mate, looking for money, success, and a big front porch. But what we’re really looking for out of all this is happiness.

When we’re talking about happiness, we often think about what works for us as individuals. We grow through trial and error. And…

Fitness and nutrition are often viewed as one-size-fits-all. New diet trends promise weight loss for anyone willing to put in the work. Fitness experts suggest that anyone can be a size two with enough motivation.

But in reality, there is no perfect diet or exercise routine, and health is not all about having enough motivation or cutting out certain food groups. Just because one person is thriving in a gluten-free or keto or paleo lifestyle doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. Every human body is unique, and we have to start looking at our individual needs rather than copying…

Ah, the morning routine. If you’re a self-improvement junky like I am, you’ve read hundreds of articles about the importance of rising at 5am, so you can work out, write six articles, finish a novel, and of course drink some water. And I’m not denying the fact that successful people get up early. Tim Cook starts his day at 3:45am. Ernest Hemingway was sitting down to write at sunrise every morning. The Dalai Lama consistently wakes up at 3am for prayers and meditation.

Yes, these people are successful. And yes, they clearly have a morning routine that works. But Tim…

Everything I know about happiness, I learned from loss.

Since the pandemic started, I’ve been thinking a lot about happiness. It’s no secret that the past year has been challenging for everyone. Some have lost their jobs, others have lost their loved ones, and 2021 is starting out with more of the same. Even though there’s an end in sight, 2020 has changed me forever.

In July, I lost my mom. July 18th, to be exact. It was a week before my 24th birthday, and it was the worst day of my life. Now, seven months later, I would do…

I’ve always been what grown-ups called “a scared kid”. As a ten year old, I would lie in bed and listen for the tiniest sound that meant trouble. I convinced myself that people were walking down the hallway towards my bedroom, or standing outside of my window. I thought I smelled smoke, or heard a door creak open.

As an adult, that fear has never gone away. But now, it bubbles up when I need to give a presentation, or meet new people, or send an important email. I feel it when I have to make even the tiniest decision…