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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is often discussed in terms of hormones, fertility, and metabolism. What receives far less attention is the role of chronic stress and how deeply it impacts both the body and the mind for individuals living with PCOS. Stress is not just something you feel. It is something your body experiences repeatedly, sometimes for years. When stress becomes chronic, it affects the nervous system, hormone regulation, inflammation, blood sugar balance, mood, and s

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome affects far more than hormones, cycles, or fertility. For many individuals, PCOS quietly reshapes how they see themselves. Changes in weight, skin, hair, energy, mood, and reproductive health can slowly erode self-esteem and create a complicated relationship with the body. Clients often share that PCOS made them feel disconnected from who they used to be or who they thought they would become. Others describe feeling betrayed by their body, ashamed of

One of the most frustrating parts of living with PCOS is hearing conflicting information. One person struggles with weight and insulin resistance. Another has irregular periods but no metabolic concerns. Someone else was diagnosed only after fertility challenges. All of these experiences can be PCOS. PCOS is not a single presentation. It is a spectrum. Understanding PCOS phenotypes can help explain why symptoms vary so widely and why comparison often leads to confusion, self-

PCOS Is More Than a Reproductive Condition Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is often discussed only in the context of fertility. Many people are first introduced to PCOS when periods are irregular or pregnancy is difficult. While fertility can be impacted, PCOS is not just a reproductive disorder. PCOS is a complex endocrine, metabolic, and mental health condition that affects the entire body and nervous system. Hormones, blood sugar regulation, energy level

The Rise of Shame Culture and Why It Matters Shame culture is not new, but it has become louder, more pervasive, and more socially acceptable, especially online. I see it in comment sections, in therapy rooms, in medical offices, and increasingly in spaces that are supposed to be supportive. Shame often disguises itself as advice, truth telling, or “just being honest.” It can be subtle, unintentional, and deeply harmful. I hear it in phrases like, “I don’t understand how some

How to Use This as a 7‑Day Reset Before You Begin This exercise is designed to be completed between sessions over the course of one week. Day 1: Start With Yourself On the first day, your only task is to observe your own behavior. This helps reduce defensiveness, increase accountability, and soften the negative lens before focusing on your partner. You are not doing this to judge yourself. You are doing this to notice effort. Days 2-7: Shift to Observing Your Partner For the

Living with PCOS often feels like being initiated into a club you never asked to join. A sisterhood or rather a Cyst-erhood of people quietly carrying symptoms, fears, shame, and exhaustion that others rarely see or take seriously. If you are reading this, you already know that PCOS touches almost every layer of your life. It is not just irregular periods or cysts or symptoms that show up on lab work. It affects your body, your identity, your relationships, your mental health

When emotions feel overwhelming, the mind and body often need help settling down. This is where self-soothing comes in; a set of tools and strategies that help us regulate big feelings and bring our nervous system back into balance. Unlike self-care, which is often proactive and long-term (like getting enough sleep or exercising regularly), self-soothing is more immediate. It's something we turn to in the moment; when anxiety spikes, when sadness hits, when we're overstimulat

Learn how the Love Maps exercise, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman as part of the Gottman Method, supports couples in reconnecting through deeper emotional insight and shared understanding. Instructions:   One person will begin by answering the question about their partner to the best of their ability. If they don't know the answer or can't guess correctly, they should ask their partner for the answer directly (e.g., "what's your favorite color"). The goal is not to a

Taking a Break During Conflict Takes Practice Conflict is natural in relationships but knowing when and how to take a break can prevent harm and promote respect for one another. Here's a structured approach for recognizing when to step away and how to return productively. 1. Recognize Signs of Emotional Flooding Emotional flooding occurs when the nervous system is overwhelmed. These are common signs: Fight : You're verbally aggressive, repeating yourself, or feel unheard.  Ex

Emotional abuse is a deeply isolating experience. Unlike physical abuse, there are often no visible scars, and the effects can slowly erode your confidence, self-worth, and trust in your own perception. One of the most deceptive forms of emotional abuse is gaslighting. What is Gaslighting? Gaslighting is a form of manipulation where someone makes you doubt your reality, memories, or feelings. Over time, this can make you feel “crazy,” anxious, or unable to trust your own judg

Have you ever been stuck in indecisiveness to the point where you just let whatever happens, happen? You’re not alone. Many of us have experienced those moments when decisions feel so heavy, or so overwhelming, that the easiest thing to do is nothing at all. There’s a phrase you may have heard before: “No choice is still a choice.” Versions of this idea have shown up in philosophy, psychology, and even pop culture over time. The point is the same: when you don’t actively deci

You may have heard of the famous book The Body Keeps the Score  by Bessel van der Kolk. The title itself carries so much truth: our bodies hold the memory of trauma far longer than we realize. Have you ever jumped at something and thought, “I don’t know where that reaction came from?”  That’s trauma living in front of you. Your body remembers how to react when something feels even remotely similar to a past painful event, sometimes without you consciously realizing it. Think

Sex is one of the most vulnerable, intimate aspects of a relationship, and yet, it’s also one of the hardest topics for couples to talk about. Many clients feel ashamed, anxious, or afraid of judgment when sexual struggles show up in their relationship. As a therapist, I want to normalize this: difficulties with sex are common, and they don’t mean your relationship is broken. They simply point to areas where healing, understanding, and new tools can bring closeness back. Sex

One of the most important truths about trauma is this: you did not ask for it. No one chooses trauma, and no one deserves it. Trauma isn’t a sign of weakness, and it’s not something you should “just get over.” It’s a real, human response to overwhelming experiences, and it deserves to be understood with empathy and care. What Is Trauma? Trauma is not just the event itself, it’s the impact that event leaves on our body, mind, and spirit. Trauma occurs when something overwhelms

Addiction touches almost every family in some way. Even if we’ve emotionally cut off a loved one who struggles, the impact lingers. Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual, it weaves its way through families, generations, and relationships. One story I once read captures this truth: An alcoholic father had two identical twin sons. One son grew up to become an alcoholic himself. The other never touched a drop of alcohol in his life. When each was asked why they made the c

Grief is messy, unpredictable, and often misunderstood. Society has expectations about how long it should last, how it should look, and how we should “move on.” But grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and it doesn’t care about anyone’s timeline. As Megan Devine reminds us in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, grief is not a problem to fix, it is a process to live through. Often, loved ones mean well when they say things like: “It’s time to move on.” “At least you had [X].” “You need to b

Everyone deserves to be met where they are, with respect and curiosity rather than judgment. In my work and my life, I strive to provide a space where people of all genders, sexualities, and identities can explore who they truly are without fear of shaming or dismissal. We live in a world where nearly everyone is touched, directly or indirectly, by someone in the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, a coworker, or a neighbor, these connections remind us

René Descartes once wrote, “I think, therefore I am.”  It’s a phrase most of us have heard, but it carries so much weight when it comes to mental health. What we think shapes what we see. And what we see, we come to believe as truth. Take for example the thought: “I am a failure.” When that thought takes over, it’s like putting a filter on a camera and locking the zoom lens on one small detail. Suddenly, every part of the picture seems to confirm the belief. A mistake at work

Anxiety can feel cruel. The more we try to push it away, the stronger its grip becomes. We think we’re controlling it by shoving it down, but in reality, we’re handing it power over us. Think of it like this: suppressing feelings is like pushing a rubber duck under water. The duck is your anxiety. At first, you might manage with one arm, holding it down so no one sees. But over time, your arm gets tired. You start using two arms, straining to keep it submerged. Eventually, yo