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Why Emotional Overload Happens and How to Find Your Way Back to Calm

In the middle of juggling work, relationships, parenting, aging parents, and the ongoing transitions of womanhood, many people describe feeling “on edge all the time.” Emotional overload can show up as irritability, anxiety, forgetfulness, difficulty sleeping, or feeling disconnected from yourself and the people you care about. Even though it feels deeply personal, emotional overload is actually a normal nervous-system response to prolonged stress. When life demands more than your internal resources can comfortably manage, your body shifts into a protective state. This can look like: Fight: irritability, snapping, tension Flight: overthinking, frantic busyness, avoidance Freeze: numbness, procrastination, shutdown Fawn: people-pleasing at the expense of your own needs The goal isn’t to eliminate stress—life will never be perfectly balanced. Instead, the work is learning how to support your nervous system so it doesn’t stay stuck in survival mode. Why Women Are E...
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How Attachment Styles Affect Your Relationships

How Attachment Styles Affect Your Relationships Our early experiences with caregivers shape the way we connect with others throughout life. This is what psychologists call attachment styles,  patterns of relating that influence our emotions, communication, and intimacy in relationships. Understanding your attachment style can offer valuable insight into why you respond to love, conflict, and closeness the way you do. What Are Attachment Styles? There are four main attachment styles: Secure Attachment People with a secure attachment tend to feel comfortable with intimacy and independence. They trust others easily and communicate their needs openly, which helps build healthy, balanced relationships. Anxious Attachment Those with anxious attachment often worry about being abandoned or not being loved enough. They may seek constant reassurance and can become overly dependent on their partner’s attention. Avoidant Attachment Avoidant individuals often value independence t...
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Understanding Anxiety: Signs, Symptoms, and Strategies to Cope

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges many of us face, especially in today’s fast-paced and uncertain world. Whether you’re experiencing occasional worry or chronic anxiety, understanding its signs and symptoms can be the first step toward managing it effectively. What Does Anxiety Feel Like? Anxiety can show up in many ways, including physical symptoms like increased heart rate, muscle tension, or digestive issues. Emotionally, it might feel like persistent worry, fear, or a sense of impending doom. Some people also experience difficulty concentrating, restlessness, or irritability. Common Signs of Anxiety Excessive worrying about everyday situations Feeling restless or “on edge” Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep Trouble concentrating or mind going blank Physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, or rapid heartbeat Strategies to Manage Anxiety Practice Mindfulness: Being present and observing your thoughts without judgment can help redu...
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Motherhood and Identity Loss

No one talks enough about how becoming a mother can feel like losing parts of yourself. Maybe your creativity, friendships, confidence, or body feel distant. You’re still you, but parts have gone quiet. This isn’t about regret. It’s about grief,  the quiet, unspoken kind. Grief for the freedom you once had. Grief for the version of you who wasn’t always thinking ten steps ahead for someone else. Grief for spontaneity, rest, even boredom. Motherhood Can Be Beautiful and Overwhelming You can love your child deeply and miss your old self. You can be grateful and exhausted, fulfilled and unseen, all at once. These truths don’t cancel each other out. They live side by side. But when we don't acknowledge them, shame grows in the silence. The Pressure to Be "Everything" There’s a cultural pressure to lose yourself in motherhood, to be endlessly selfless, constantly available, and grateful at all times. This can leave little space for your own needs, identity, or g...
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Anxiety Doesn’t Always Look Like Panic

 Not all anxiety looks like rapid breathing or spiraling thoughts. In women, it often shows up as: – Over-preparing for everything – People-pleasing to avoid conflict – Trouble sleeping even when exhausted – Avoiding decisions or social plans You might appear “high-functioning” on the outside, but feel tense and overwhelmed inside. Therapy can help you understand your patterns and create room to breathe again. 🌀 Journal Prompt: What part of your anxiety do others rarely see—but impacts you the most? www.clairvilletherapygroup.com
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When One Partner Shuts Down and the Other Leans In

In many couples, one person tends to retreat while the other pushes harder to connect. It’s not a character flaw, it’s a dance rooted in attachment. This dynamic can feel frustrating and lonely for both people. The pursuer feels ignored. The withdrawer feels overwhelmed. At Clairville Therapy Group, we help couples understand and shift these patterns so both people feel safe and seen. 🌀 Try This Together: Pause an argument and ask, “What do you need right now to feel calmer with me?” www.clairvilletherapygroup.com
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What If the Problem Isn’t You, It’s Chronic Stress?

It’s easy to blame yourself when you’re irritable, unfocused, or withdrawing from loved ones. But often, the “problem” is prolonged stress, and your nervous system is doing its best to cope. Chronic stress can look like: – Reactivity in your relationship – Forgetting simple things – Feeling numb or shut down – Constant fatigue, even after sleep If this resonates, know that your body is not betraying you. It’s protecting you. Therapy can help you reset your stress responses and reclaim calm. 🌀 Reflection Prompt: What small signals has your body been sending that you might be overlooking? www.clairvilletherapygroup.com
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