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

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