I spent a large part of my academic career at a medical school, where I developed a consulting service at a Level-I trauma center with a county mission to care for patients who are indigent, homeless, and have mental illnesses. My work often involved helping patients with serious addictions.

Doing this work,Doing this work, I just assumed that my children would know what was going on with fentanyl and street drugs, particularly painkillers. The issue so saturated the media I assumed that, were I to bring the topic up with my sons, I would get an eye roll and a sigh.

In July 2022, I received a call from my 26-year-old son’s boss. My beloved son, Billy, was a successful construction manager and was living his dream, working on a major waterfront project in Seattle. His boss apologized for calling but said that, in four years of work, Billy had not only never missed a day of work, but he had also never been a minute late.

I sent a close friend to check on him and was on the phone when he discovered that Billy had not woken up from the night before when he had apparently taken a counterfeit M-30 pain pill that was spiked with fentanyl. He was dead.

Billy had lived with me for a year prior to his death after he broke up with a girlfriend. We found a house for him, and he was launched into his new life. He had been in the new house for three months when we lost him. For the year that Bill lived with me, I never saw any evidence of illegal drug use. I also never saw him intoxicated, but it would have been ridiculous of me to assume that he did not drink a lot at times; he just never did in my presence. There were no warnings of drug or alcohol problems in the year before he died. Early in his career, he was drug tested and would, in fact, become responsible for testing employees on his work sites.

The day Billy died, his mom, two brothers, and I came to an instant, unsaid agreement: We would use his death to prevent further fentanyl deaths in any way possible. This included what we published in his obituary, what was said at his memorial, featuring him in the Seattle newspaper with an article on “The Faces of Fentanyl,” and this piece for Psychology Today.

How do you talk to teenagers and adult children about this terrible societal risk that is only getting worse? Having had the darkest year imaginable, I am able to invoke what we have learned from motivational interviewing and harm reduction in psychology. Motivational interviewing (MI) involves the science of behavior change that is largely based on addictions. MI advises us not to confront, lecture, or shame people involved in destructive behaviors. It involves engaging in dialogue that provides useful information about the advantages and disadvantages of certain behaviors.

Harm reduction operates on the assumption that, with some addictive behaviors, if we are not able to change them instantly, then it is better to take a route that minimizes the harm such addictions will create.

With these psychological principles in mind, I will end with a letter that I published in the Seattle Times:

“If I somehow could talk to my son now, I would tell him that he was playing roulette with any drugs he gets on the street; most of them contain fentanyl. I would also tell him that if he sees friends who want to defy an early death and need to use street drugs, then they should at least test the drugs for fentanyl, never use them alone, and always have Narcan available. I never considered telling any of this to my son because I assumed he had read the papers or watched the news; I thought it would be obvious to him what a terrible risk it is to get drugs off the dark web or street. Apparently, I got that wrong.”

Sadly, I opted not to risk a sigh or an eye roll and communicate this to my son. Now, as his mother says, we will never see our beautiful child again.

References

Blume, A. W. (2012). Seeking the middle way: G. Alan Marlatt and harm reduction. Addiction Research & Theory, 20(3), 218–226. https://doi.org/10.3109/16066359.2012.657281

Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change, 3rd Edition WR Miller and S Rollnick, Guilford Press, 2012

The post How to Talk to Your Children About Fentanyl appeared first on My Blog.

Lately, it’s been hard for Jack Innanen, a 22-year-old TikTok star from Toronto, to create content. “I feel like I’m tapping a keg that’s been empty for a year,” he said.

Spending hours shooting, editing, storyboarding, engaging with fans, setting up brand deals and balancing the many other responsibilities that come with being a successful content creator have taken a toll. Mr. Innanen, like so many Gen Z influencers who found fame in the last year, is burned out.

“I get to the point where I’m like, ‘I have to make a video today,’ and I spend the entire day dreading the process,” he said.

He’s hardly the only one. “This app used to be so fun,” a TikTok creator known as Sha Crow said in a video from February, “and now your favorite creator is depressed.” He went on to explain how his friends are struggling with mental health problems and the stresses of public life.

The video went viral, and in the comments, dozens of creators echoed his sentiment. “Say it louder bro,” wrote one with 1.7 million followers. “Mood,” commented another creator with nearly five million followers.

As people collectively process the devastation of the pandemic, burnout has plagued nearly every corner of the work force. White-collar workers are spontaneously quitting jobs; parents are at a breaking point; hourly and service employees are overworked; and health care professionals are coping with the exhaustion and trauma of being on the front lines of the pandemic.

According to a recent report by the venture firm SignalFire, more than 50 million people consider themselves creators (also known as influencers), and the industry is the fastest-growing small-business segment, thanks in part to a year where life migrated online and many found themselves stuck at home or out of work. Throughout 2020, social media minted a new generation of young stars.

Now, however, many of them say they have reached a breaking point. In March, Charli D’Amelio, TikTok’s biggest star with more than 117 million followers, said that she had “lost the passion” for posting content. Last month, Spencewuah, a 19-year-old TikTok star with nearly 10 million followers, announced he’d be stepping back from the platform after a spat with BTS fans.

“A lot of older TikTokers don’t post as much, and a lot of younger TikTokers have ducked off,” said Devron Harris, 20, a TikTok creator in Tampa, Fla. “They just stopped doing content. When creators do try to speak out on being bullied or burned out or not being treated as human, the comments all say, ‘You’re an influencer, get over it.’”

What Goes Up, Comes Down

Burnout has affected generations of social media creators. In 2017, Instagram influencers began leaving the platform, saying they were feeling depressed and discouraged. “No one seems to be having any fun anymore on Instagram,” a contributor to the blog This Is Glamorous wrote at the time.

In 2018, Josh Ostrovsky, an Instagram creator known as The Fat Jew, who had also spoken about burnout, echoed those sentiments. “Eventually there will be too many influencers, the market will be too saturated,” Mr. Ostrovsky said.

That same year, many large YouTube creators began stepping away from the platform, citing mental health issues. Their critiques centered on YouTube’s algorithm, which favored longer videos and those who posted on a near-daily basis, a pace that creators said was almost impossible to meet. YouTube product managers and executives addressed creators’ concerns and promised a solution.

But problems with burnout in the creator community are endemic. “If you slow down, you might disappear,” the YouTuber Olga Kay told Fast Company in 2014.

When a fresh crop of young stars began building audiences on TikTok in late 2019 and early 2020, many were hopeful that this time would be different. They’d grown up watching YouTubers speak frankly about these issues. “When it comes to Gen Z creators, we talk so much about mental health and caring for yourself,” said Courtney Nwokedi, 23, a YouTube star in Los Angeles. “We’ve seen a bunch of creators talk about burnout in the past.”

Still, they weren’t prepared for the draining work of building, maintaining and monetizing an audience during a pandemic. “It’s exhausting,” said Jose Damas, 22, a TikTok creator in Los Angeles. “It feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day.”

“TikTok is just as demanding as YouTube,” said Gohar Khan, 22, a TikTok creator in Seymour, Conn.

Thanks to the app’s algorithmically generated “For You” page, TikTok delivers fame faster than any other platform; it’s possible to amass millions of followers within a matter of weeks. But as quickly as creators rise, they can fall.

“It almost feels like I’m getting a taste of celebrity, but it’s never consistent and as soon as you get it, it’s gone and you’re constantly trying to get it back,” said Lauren Stasyna, 22, a TikTok creator in Toronto. “It feels like I’m trying to capture this prize, but I don’t know what the prize even is.”

The volatility can be rattling. “When your views are down, it affects your financial stability and puts your career at risk,” said Luis Capecchi, a 23-year-old TikTok creator in Los Angeles. “It’s like getting demoted at a job with no warning.”

Creators have encountered all kinds of problems, including bullying, harassment and discrimination. “Some creators get their content stolen too, so someone else will go viral off their content then they get all the press,” Mr. Harris said. Not to mention, fan communities and internet commentators can be vicious. “You can’t just film what you want to film,” Mr. Harris said. “They’ll make fun of you if your views drop.”

“I do worry about my longevity on social media,” said Zach Jelks, 21, a TikTok creator in Los Angeles. “People just throw one creator away because they’re tired of them,” he said.

‘Next, Next, Next’

No one has benefited from the creator boom more than the technology industry. After over a decade of largely snubbing influencers, in the past year, high-profile investors have done an about-face. Venture capitalists in Silicon Valley are now pouring money into creator-focused start-ups, and platforms themselves have begun to compete for talent.

“The over-saturation and this push for everyone to be a creator seems disingenuous,” Mr. Innanen said. “It seems like a cash grab. It makes me feel very disposable, which maybe I am. It’s just next, next, next.”

Creators also operate without the type of traditional employment protections and benefits that come with many salaried jobs. Some leaders in the creator economy, such as Li Jin, whose venture firm invests in the industry, have called for more sustainable monetization paths for creators of all sizes. But most are left to fend for themselves or risk potentially exploitative management agreements.

“You’re completely self-employed, and it’s not like you can continuously make the same work,” Mr. Innanen said. “You have to evolve and adapt.”

“I feel like I can become washed up any second by an algorithm,” he added.

“There is a dark side to it,” said Jake Browne, 30, founder of the Go House, a content house in Los Angeles. “There’s all these investors and platforms, and they need creators to create content on a mass scale. It’s sort of, let’s get everyone to do it and we don’t care about them. The top 10 percent will make us money.”

That pressure will soon feel familiar to more people who shun low-wage or unreliable work to pursue careers in the creator economy. Platforms like Substack and OnlyFans have arisen to sell the dream of entrepreneurship and independence to more people, many of whom have lost faith in more traditional sectors of the economy.

“The influencer industry is simply the logical endpoint of American individualism, which leaves all of us jostling for identity and attention but never getting enough,” Rebecca Jennings wrote recently in Vox.

It likely won’t change soon. “I feel like social media is built to burn people out,” Mr. Jelks said.

To cope with depression, many TikTok creators have sought therapy and life coaching, or tried to be more open with their fans and friends about their struggles.

“When I’m depressed, I talk to the people around me,” said Tatayanna Mitchell, 22, a YouTube and TikTok creator in Los Angeles. “I make posts on my stories and share those quotes that are like, ‘It’s OK to talk to people if you need help.’” Last September, Ms. Mitchell announced she was “quitting TikTok,” citing toxicity and harassment. However, she rejoined shortly after. “I was just sad,” she said.

Walid Mohammed, 21, a manager for Gen Z creators who lives with Ms. Mitchell and several other social media stars, said that being in proximity to one another has helped them. “As a house we have meetings every morning at 10 a.m. to talk about this stuff,” he said. “We talk about stress and how we have to keep working, but that it’s important to take breaks, you just have to stay consistent. We try to cheer each other up.”

Mr. Innanen said that representatives from TikTok have been supportive when he has used the platform to speak out about mental health challenges and invited him to participate in a panel on the issue with other creators.

“We care deeply about our creators’ wellbeing, and take their concerns seriously,” a TikTok spokesperson wrote in an email statement. “We’re focused on understanding their individual content goals and experiences, and our teams continue to work to provide resources, support, and an open door for feedback.”

But even the most helpful platforms can’t alleviate the precarity that’s inherent to a creator’s job, or the pressure many creators put on themselves. “It feels like I personally am failing and may never recover if a video flops,” he said.

A version of this article appears in print on June 13, 2021, Section ST, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Content Creators Burn Out and Break Down.

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By: Kimberly Nelson, MA with Courtney Kelly

Receiving a diagnosis is a significant milestone on the road to recovery. It clarifies courses of treatment, supplies precedent, and gives rhyme and reason to symptoms that may otherwise be confusing or even scary. “Identifying a set of experiences with a name can often be a relief for those with mental health conditions. It helps them recognize that they’re not alone,” said Carrie Hanson, Clinical Director of CooperRiis Healing Community. When conceptualized appropriately, diagnoses are powerful tools patients and practitioners can use to identify targeted interventions, develop comprehensive treatment plans, and cultivate effective management strategies.

Mistake 1: Resisting Your Diagnosis

But conceptualized inappropriately, diagnoses can get in the way of recovery. Issues arise when mental health conditions are viewed as threats to established identities. Unable to integrate their psychological challenges with their sense of self, a person with this attitude towards their diagnosis may refuse to accept they’re struggling. Denial can easily devolve into delusion, and delusion makes it impossible for individuals to recognize how their mental health is impacting their lives. Healing can only begin when folks acknowledge it’s needed to begin with, so this stymies the recovery process at the start line.

As an example, mental health conditions have historically (and erroneously) been associated with “weakness.” This association has caused more than a few to resist treatment on the grounds that accepting a diagnosis would make them a weak person. But refusing to confront challenges doesn’t make them go away. It often makes them worse. If you believe you’re not “supposed” to be feeling anxiety when you are, you’ll not only start to feel anxiety about your anxiety, you’ll also be less likely to seek help for it.

Psychoeducation offers a powerful antidote to this type of denial. When people learn that mental health conditions have nothing to do with their character, that symptoms result from forces outside of their control—genes, traumas, environments, norms—they start to realize that diagnoses don’t undermine who they are. They can be strong, virtuous, courageous, and experience psychological challenges. In fact, accepting those challenges as real is itself a demonstration of strength, virtue, and courage.

Mistake 2: Becoming Your Diagnosis

On the flip side of resisting a diagnosis is letting it consume you. Also known as engulfment, overidentification with a mental health condition can be just as detrimental to the recovery process. This is especially true when paired with internalized stigma. A metastudy on the relationship between identity and recovery from severe mental illness found that the more negative associations a person had with their condition, the worse they’d fare during treatment. Patients with schizophrenia who believed they would never be able to live a purposeful, fulfilled life with their condition were more likely to isolate themselves from others, opt out of evidence-based programming, and fail to apply management strategies they learned.

Internalized stigma can be tricky to unpack, as it’s typically buried under years of acculturation. Our perspectives on mental illness are shaped by subtle (and not-so-subtle) messaging from the media, our family members, and the people in our communities, for better or worse. And in the case of the latter, “folks may view their health care providers as the ‘bearers of bad news’ rather than facilitators of healing,” explained Hanson. Given that a positive therapeutic relationship is critical to recovery, this mindset obstructs progress. To secure better treatment outcomes, patients must establish better outlooks on their lives.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help. By equipping individuals with the tools they need to dismantle maladaptive beliefs, CBT can empower folks with mental health conditions to let go of the stigma that may be getting in the way of recovery. “Their careers, relationships, and even routines might look different than they once envisioned, but that doesn’t mean people with psychological challenges can’t live full, gratifying lives,” said Hanson. “Recovery is possible. For some people, it begins with learning to believe that.”

Mistake 3: Giving Up Control to Your Diagnosis

For others, it begins with recognizing that they still have agency in their lives. Overidentification can melt into entitlement for those who believe a diagnosis means they’re no longer responsible for their own actions. While it’s important to recognize that mental health conditions can impact or even impair decision-making, it’s also important to remember that all decisions have consequences. Having a diagnosis does not erase the harm a hurtful statement can cause, for example.

“Once, a resident had an angry outburst that frightened some of his peers. When we confronted him about his behavior, he said he couldn’t help it. We calmly pointed out that while his condition did make emotional regulation hard, he still had to apologize to those his actions affected,” recalled Hanson. By supporting him in doing so, this individual’s therapeutic team helped him exercise agency. And agency, like a muscle, strengthens with use.

It’s never a good idea for anyone to beat themselves up for something they said or did, mental health notwithstanding. The key is to balance self-compassion with accountability. Be cognizant of the internal and external factors impacting your decisions, but don’t relinquish accountability for them. Striking this balance will enable you to become an active participant in your life rather than a passive victim of circumstance.

Mistake 4: Focusing Exclusively on Your Diagnosis

Psychological conditions can make everything from retaining employment to getting out of bed extremely difficult. For this reason, it’s critical for folks with mental health conditions to nourish aspects of their identity that aren’t related to their diagnoses. Our behaviors emanate from our self-concepts; the person who defines themselves as “depressed” and nothing more is likely to act in line with that definition. But the person who defines themselves as a complex, multifaceted human being is empowered to act in line with their goals instead of their symptoms.

This is why connecting with core values is such an important practice for individuals suffering from mental health conditions. Doing so not only reinforces the fact that they are more than their diagnoses but also supports them in achieving self-actualization. “You can’t be your best self until you know who you are,” said Hanson, “and who you are is someone who has aspirations, someone to whom things matter.” A clear understanding of what you want out of life and why will motivate you to persist towards meaningful goals, even when symptoms make that hard.

When people conceptualize psychological challenges as opportunities for growth, the process of confronting those challenges becomes therapeutic. “Enrichment” occurs when a person accepts a diagnosis as a part of their story but does not let it drive their narrative. Equipped with their core values, supported by their providers, and in possession of their ambitions, their difficulties become arenas for self-discovery, and their hardships become hero’s journeys.

The post You Are Not Your Diagnosis appeared first on My Blog.

It is safe to say that the pursuit of happiness—a phrase penned by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence—has served as a primary ambition for many Americans throughout the nation’s history. It was soon after World War I when—as I posit in Happiness in America: A Cultural History—the modern concept of happiness was born, part of the broad attempt to apply scientific principles to mental health. Happiness became an ever-louder part of the national conversation over the past century, riding on the greater interest in psychology and the expansion of that field, especially as related to personality.

In his 1926 Understanding Ourselves: The Fine Art of Happiness, for example, Harold Dearden, a physician, showed how individuals could become happier through an acquaintance with the principles of modern psychology. Since it was the nervous system that regulated both physical and psychical well-being, Dearden maintained in the scientific parlance of the times, one’s level of happiness could be managed through inner fortitude and the power of reason. Fears and worries, as well as harmful habits, instincts, impulses, and obsessions, could be eliminated by learning “the fine art of happiness,” he argued, with logic and rationalism the means by which to keep the more primitive goings-on of the mind at bay.

Louis Berg also believed that people could follow certain principles to increase one’s chances to be happy in life. Pursuing good “mental hygiene” was analogous to pursuing good physical health, he, like many in the medical field at the time, thought, with the former heavily reliant on maintaining a positive attitude and developing what was termed a “balanced” personality.

Proponents of mental hygiene—the movement founded by Clifford W. Beers in the early 20th century—argued that happiness was largely a result of how individuals related to society. “Social consciousness is the core of adjustment and happiness,” Berg stated in his 1933 textbook The Human Personality, with extroverts far more likely to be happy than those who shied away from interaction with others.

Happiness continued to gain traction in the field of psychology after World War II. Americans too often lived in the past and future, R.M. MacIver argued in his 1955 The Pursuit of Happiness: A Philosophy for Modern Living, with only living in the “momentary now” leading to the type of happiness that so many were seeking. Anticipating the kind of thinking in the field that was a few decades away—notably the concept of “flow”—MacIver recognized that time tended to stand still or disappear when one was truly happy, with only the present able to offer that level of transcendence.

Equally impressive, he was keenly aware of the individualization of happiness, i.e., that it was a different experience for everyone, this too making him ahead of his time. “Happiness is the resonance of the whole being as it moves towards that which fulfills it,” MacIver poetically wrote, nicely boiling down the abstract concept into “the harmony within you.”

By the 1980s, however, advances in genetics were making psychologists rethink the dynamics of happiness. Unhappiness had a strong genetic component while happiness did not, according to a study led by Edward Diener of the University of Illinois, implying that the former was mostly a function of nature and the other mostly of nurture.

The research also suggested that happiness and unhappiness were thus not, as logic dictated, opposite or inverse emotions; rather, the two appeared to operate independently. Ridding oneself of some unhappiness in life, therefore, did not mean that one would become any happier, a counterintuitive notion that threw a monkey wrench into much of the out-with-the-bad, in-with-the-good brand of self-help being cast about at the time. The good news was that, at least according to this research, happiness was not genetically preordained, and could thus be achieved by those who were determined or lucky enough to find it.

In the 1990s, serious scholarly inquiry into the psychology of happiness was leading to new insights. In their article “Who Is Happy?” published in Psychological Science in May 1996, for example, Diener and David Myers argued that happiness was spread out evenly over the course of a lifetime—something not commonly believed. The pair also found four personal traits to be associated with high levels of happiness: extroversion, optimism, high self-esteem, and the feeling that one was in control of one’s life.

Advancements in neuroscience and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 each had a direct effect on the trajectory of happiness in America. Individuals had what could be considered a happiness gene, scientists were concluding, making one’s relative state of happiness or unhappiness more a matter of biology than psychology. MRI scans plainly revealed when a person was happy, with that part of his or her brain lighting up like a Christmas tree. Altering one’s happiness gene could one day be possible, more scientists were beginning to think, with such an approach envisioned as being far more effective than all the how-tos grounded in some kind of attitudinal or behavioral modification put together.

Unless or until our emotions can be genetically programmed, however, many of us will no doubt continue our unalienable right to pursue happiness.

References

Samuel, Lawrence R. (2018). Happiness in America: A Cultural History. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.

The post The Psychology of Happiness appeared first on My Blog.

Massachusetts is ranked #8 in the rate of drug-related deaths that occurred in 2019, reports the CDC. That year, the state had 32.1 drug-related deaths for every 100,000 residents. Heroin is the top illicit drug of use in Boston and the entire state. Plus, it has contributed to thousands of overdose deaths in recent years.

Here’s a closer look at the scope of drug abuse in Boston and Massachusetts, and information about drug rehab treatments that can help you experience a long-lasting recovery.

Boston and Massachusetts Drug Addiction Statistics

• In 2017, heroin represented nearly 57% of all admissions to drug rehab centers in Boston, reports the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
• In 2017, 4.5% of admissions to drug rehab centers in Boston were for crack or cocaine, 3% were for marijuana, 2.4% were for opioids other than heroin, and 2.1% were for sedatives and hypnotics.
• The city of Boston reports that an estimated 11.3% of people living in Boston are suffering from some form of substance abuse.
• In 2012, nearly one in 10 of all visits to Boston hospital emergency departments were related to substance abuse.
• Heroin is the top drug of choice for people who live in Boston and abuse drugs.
• In 2013, an estimated 42% of public high school students in Boston reported having used marijuana at least once in their lifetime, reports the Boston Public Health Commission.
• In 2013, there were approximately 28.3 admissions to drug rehab centers in Boston for every 1,000 residents aged 12 and older.
• The state of Massachusetts reports that the number of opioid-related deaths in the state has increased 450% over the last 16 years.
• Between 2013 and 2014, an estimated 3% of Massachusetts residents aged 12 years and older met the criteria for drug abuse or dependence.
• In 2018, an estimated 88% of drug overdose deaths involved at least one opioid, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
• In 2018, there were 475 heroin-related deaths and 331 deaths related to prescription opioids in Massachusetts.
• In 2018, more than 90% of opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
• In 2018, doctors in Massachusetts wrote an estimated 35.3 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people.
• In 2017, there were an estimated 13.7 babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome in Massachusetts for every 1,000 hospital births.
• In 2017, an estimated 25.5% of male HIV cases and 30.2% of female HIV cases in Massachusetts were caused by injection drug use.
• There are an estimated 38,100 people in Massachusetts living with hepatitis C caused by injection drug use.
• The NIDA reports that the number of unintentional drug overdoses reported in Boston hospitals increased by 40% between 2010 and 2012 — most of which were related to heroin.

Treatments for Drug Addiction in Massachusetts

Drug use disorders are typically treated using a combination of intervention, family coaching, behavioral therapy and life tools at Baystate Recovery.

The goal of behavioral therapy is to teach patients how to cope with stress and other triggers of drug use, and to change harmful behaviors that may be contributing to their addiction. Relapse prevention training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and 12-step facilitation therapy are some of the many evidence-based behavioral therapies used at drug rehab.

The post Recent Drug Addiction Statistics for Boston and Massachusetts appeared first on My Blog.

Summit Malibu

For people who are naturally anxious, trying to find the right employment fit can be scary and intimidating. If recruiters advertised “low-stress jobs” in their hiring promotions or even the “best jobs for people with anxiety,” it would make the job hunt much easier for so many people. There’s no shortage of individuals who seek a fast-paced career with long hours, endless social interaction, and financial upside for putting in the time. They live for the stress and excitement. But stressful jobs are not a good fit for everyone, especially those who struggle with social anxiety and prefer to work in a less chaotic environment. People with anxiety disorders often thrive in low-stress careers well suited to their personality and in surroundings that allow them to maintain a healthy, happy, and productive work life. It may be a surprise to learn that anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, approximately 44 million adults, more than 18 percent of the population, deal with an anxiety disorder each year. Though these mental health issues are highly treatable, less than 40 percent of people receive treatment for them. In some instances, this is because mental illness often comes with an attached stigma. Fear of discrimination or worries about how others will perceive them because of an anxiety disorder can lead to even greater stress. The concept of stress-free jobs is hard for some people to imagine because any type of work responsibility can be stressful. That said, there are plenty of good jobs for people with anxiety that offer rewarding and enjoyable work in a setting with minimal social interaction, which is helpful for those suffering from anxiety.

Here are 10 Low-Stress Jobs for People With Anxiety

There’s a wide range of low-stress jobs across a variety of working environments and industries. This certainly opens up the field for those searching for temporary employment and others looking for a permanent career. Trying to determine the best jobs for people with anxiety will really depend on each individual’s unique personality and interests. What might be a good fit for one person may be a poor choice for another. Even though the stress of a high-profile career in the entertainment industry might be a turnoff to many people, there are quite a few celebrities with anxiety disorders who have been extremely successful. Below are ten low-stress jobs that are good choices for those living with anxiety. They begin with entry-level positions and end with higher skill-level careers that require more education or experience.

1. Data Entry With a minimum of computer proficiency, data entry jobs require a person to take information from one location and organize it into another database. Though it might seem tedious to some people, the work is often straightforward, uncomplicated, and performed alone, in a quiet setting. 2. Custodian For those who have an aptitude for being handy, keeping a building in good working order, as well as keeping the interior clean, custodian work is a low-stress job that can be an ideal fit for some personality types. There will of course be challenges when troubleshooting problems, but these are often decisions made by the custodian on their own that, when eventually solved, can also provide a sense of reward. 3. Groundskeeper or Gardener A Groundskeeper or Gardener is the perfect job for people with anxiety for a number of reasons. Perhaps one of the best aspects of maintaining the grounds of any property is the opportunity to work outside. The job is also primarily performed alone. Even when working with a crew, there may not need to be a lot of social interaction. Working as a groundskeeper or gardener doesn’t require a degree, so people of all skill levels can qualify for this type of work. That’s not to say that it’s not skilled, and gardeners will have the ability to learn about the craft as they go. 4. Product Stocker or Receiver Even though it’s usually an entry-level position, another low-stress job that’s good for those with anxiety is working as a product stocker or receiving associate. This is a retail job, though it’s not customer-facing, and is many times performed outside of regular store hours, either early in the morning or on overnight shifts. The job involves unloading new merchandise, organizing and tagging it, as well as placing it on store shelves or in its proper place in the showroom. Some heavy lifting may be required, depending on the type of product. 5. Delivery Driver With a valid driver’s license and a solid driving history, working as a delivery driver can be enjoyable work. The job is often performed alone, delivering goods from one location to another with minimal social interaction. Some delivery drivers work in pairs when the products they deliver are large and heavy. Driving for companies like UPS, DHL, Fed Ex or USPS usually requires at least a high school diploma and some employers might also encourage a four-year degree. These jobs can be competitive, though, with some persistence, especially in larger cities, they can be landed. With the arrival of the gig economy, these types of jobs have expanded to companies like Uber Eats and others that deliver meals, groceries, and other items, and the work schedules are extremely flexible. 6. Librarian Becoming a librarian does take time and discipline because it requires a master’s degree in library and information sciences. However, after the degree is obtained, working as a librarian can be a perfect job for people with anxiety who crave quiet organization. There are instances where librarians must interact with people, but these are generally brief and the social exchanges, which come from a place of expertise and helping people, can be incredibly satisfying. 7. Graphic Designer For people with computer know-how and an artistic bent, working as a graphic designer can be a lower-stress job for people with anxiety issues. Graphic designers often work alone and, in many cases, work from home. While there will be a need to interact with clients, employers, or coworkers, this is not the main part of the job. There is also a deep satisfaction in completing and handing off a finished piece of design work. 8. Computer Programmer or IT Specialist A Computer Programmer or IT Specialist job does require technical expertise, but in the actual work of developing computer software or maintaining a professional network of computers, most of the interaction is done with computers and not people. Another benefit of these types of skilled, low-stress jobs is that employers are generally looking for programmers and specialists that have strong technical abilities but are not expecting them to be customer-facing. 9. Accountant Working with numbers can be a nightmare for some people, especially extroverts, but for people with social anxiety, there is often a rewarding aspect to dealing with the complex rules of math. Working as an accountant does require a college education, but the work itself doesn’t necessarily require a lot of collaboration with others, depending on the type of accounting job. 10. Counselor or Psychologist This may seem like an odd job choice for a person with anxiety issues, but counselors and psychologists who successfully manage their anxiety can empathize with their clients and help them work through or overcome similar issues. Becoming a psychologist requires a doctorate degree in counseling psychology. The job itself is mostly performed in a quiet, one-on-one setting, and over the course of a career, psychologists can also start taking the exact kind of work they find most rewarding and least stressful.

20 More Jobs for People with Anxiety Disorders

The ten employment ideas listed above offer a good sampling of low, or even stress-free jobs that fit most skill and experience levels. Here are 20 more jobs and careers to explore that offer solitary work with low social interaction for most, in a calm or quiet environment. 

20 Jobs for People With Social Anxiety

• Freelance writer
• Social media specialist
• Electrician
• Factory worker
• Photographer
• Massage therapist
• Video Editor
• Plumber
• Pet groomer or dog walker
• Interior designer
• Medical transcriptionist
• Artist
• Mechanic
• Baker
• House painter
• Fitness instructor
• Ranger in a park or forest
• Researcher
• Laboratory technician
• Florist

April is Stress Awareness Month and a time of the year when people are considering part-time work for the summer or full-time careers after they finish school. This list of jobs for people with anxiety should provide enough examples to suit almost every person’s interests and needs, or at the very least, point them in the right direction. Everyone should have the opportunity to work in a place where they feel comfortable and secure, and they look forward to going to every day. It’s even more important that they finish each day without feeling too stressed or anxious to return to work the next day. When people enjoy their work, it carries over into the rest of their life and they become happier, healthier, and more productive.

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Bernard Golden, Ph.D.

“Taking this program will be transformative.” That’s what I was told when I registered for Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy (SCIP), a 10-month program offered to psychotherapists by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, which was founded by Chris Germer and Kristin Neff. I had previously become acquainted with their work through reading their books and attending a conference they led in Portland in 2015 (Neff, 2009; Germer, 2010).

Their ideas powerfully resonated with me, as helping clients cultivate self-compassion had been a meaningful component of my clinical work for many years. While life interfered with my desire to learn more about their work, when their programs were offered virtually, I immediately enrolled.

Being a lifelong learner, I sought more information and skills to help me with my clients Additionally, I sought connection with clinicians who were similarly interested in self-compassion. Further, while I had practiced mindfulness meditation and some self-compassion skills, I was not doing so as consistently as I wanted to in my practice.

I had first enrolled in The Mindful Self-Compassion, the 10-week prerequisite to the SCIP program in which we were introduced to exercises presented in The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Germer and Neff (Germer & Neff, 2014). It consisted of exercises intended to promote grounding, dealing with uncomfortable emotions (including shame), breathing exercises, and a broad variety of skills in self-compassion.

The book also addressed the concept of backdraft, a term Germer has used to describe the arousal of uncomfortable emotions, sensations, or thoughts that might emerge in the practice of self-compassion. It parallels the reaction firefighters experience when opening a door to a fire-filled room, only to have the flames jump out, as they are fueled by oxygen made available in the air outside the room. When we practice self-compassion, we open our hearts. As we welcome compassion in, we are once again opening our heart—to the suffering of past wounds that may not have been fully grieved or mourned.

When I began the program, I believed I was compassionate with others and myself. After all, clients and colleagues had told me so. Readers of my books said the same. However, I soon recognized discomfort with self-compassion, both due to some medical issues in recent years and failure to more consistently practice self-compassion exercises.

A triggering interaction

As such, it was quite humbling when I quickly became aware that I was not as self-compassionate as I believed. I became acutely aware of this discomfort when interacting with another participant in a Zoom break-out group. Three of us met in order to practice several therapeutic skills, including providing compassionate responses. We took turns, each of us having the opportunity to take on the role of therapist and client.

Toward the end of the session, a participant who had just taken the role of therapist asked for feedback. I’m usually quite thoughtful before providing feedback. However, on this occasion I responded too quickly, without taking the time to express it in a more compassionate way. I blurted out, “I felt what you said was too wordy.” The participant who had played her “client” was quick to state, “Oh, no. I felt she was fully present with me, extremely empathic with me, and very compassionate.” And, in that instant, the Zoom clock ran down to zero and we were no longer in the breakout room. I didn’t have the opportunity to soften or explain my feedback. I felt terrible.

Truth be told, I quickly recognized a certain degree of shame regarding what I had said. I believe her facial expression of surprise and dismay contributed to this experience. I’m usually more compassionate, as I do not wish to offend people. However, it seemed overly intense for the situation. Worse, I was unable to contact this participant until the following week.

Taking time for reflection

I used this time to reflect upon my response and what I experienced in my body that contributed to that reaction. Revisiting the interaction in my mind, I initially recognized vague discomfort surrounding the shame. While I have certainly spent time dealing with shame in the past, it apparently was again being triggered.

Upon further reflection, it became apparent that I believed the comments she made were somehow “excessively compassionate”; just too “sweet.” But I also acknowledged a sense of irritation and leeriness. I soon recognized that I had internally experienced a low degree of threat, with feelings of distrust regarding the sincerity of her comments.

I soon recognized that I had had these reactions in the past. And then it suddenly made perfect sense: In recent years, I’ve come to recognize the influence of an insecure attachment style that has influenced my trust, and my ability to be more fully present and vulnerable (in spite of my share of therapy). I had read about it and now I felt it: how an insecure attachment style is associated with discomfort with self-compassion.

Contributions to my reaction

By temperament, I am slow to warm up. As I shared in one of our small group sessions, at times it feels like I’m at a party just warmed up and being more authentic—but just when the party is over. This attachment style leaves me at times vulnerable to trust, both wanting connection and fearing it won’t happen—as well as, when connected, fearing it will end. Additionally, I’m sure I’ve internalized to some extent the “rule” that real men shouldn’t be vulnerable; they should not need compassion.

However, I believe the major contribution to my reaction was my relationship with my parents. While they provided many loving moments, neither was very communicative about their feelings or sufficiently validating of mine. More important, I often observed my mother sounding very sincere to others in public, but privately criticizing them in an angry tone. Furthermore, when I was a child, there were several times when my father picked up the phone, started dialing, and threatened to call “them” to take me away if I did not stop misbehaving. Their lack of authenticity, and these mentioned behaviors, certainly impacted me, contributing to my being hyper-vigilant to detect authenticity and even doubting it when it occurred.

Perhaps most importantly, these interactions led me to experience shame, with overwhelming feelings that I could not understand or manage. As such, it was very meaningful to hear Germer state, “Behind the experience of shame is simply the desire to be loved, included, and accepted.”

The following week I contacted the participant through a chat and both apologized and shared my self-reflection. And, of course, she responded in a way that reflected pure compassion. I then took a deep breath and did all I could to savor it, and to let it support my self-compassion for how I had responded. This experience contributed to a shift in my awareness that helped me to become more present and open to self-compassion. So yes, it really was transformative.

References

The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion https://centerformsc.org/

Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion. New York: HarperCollins Publishers

Germer, C. (2009). The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion. New York: The Guilford Press

Germer, C. & Neff, K. (2018). The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook. New York: The Guilford Press

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“Hey, what’s the best advice you ever got about being a therapist?”

I get that question from younger therapists when I teach grad counseling students, supervise interns, and facilitate case consultation groups.

Over the course of 40 years in clinical practice, I’ve had some outstanding mentors, and my skills have developed with their wise input. But one bit of guidance stands out—I think of it as my “North Star” for working with clients.

The “North Star” lesson was offered by my supervisor back in 1980 when I was a young intern at the Family Institute of Berkeley. Bob Shaw, director of the Institute, was a wonderfully perceptive and savvy psychiatrist who challenged us to stretch ourselves, to make a difference in every session, and to strive toward being (in his words) “masterful” therapists. Heady input for a beginning clinician…

In weekly group supervision meetings, Bob would ask us to talk about our cases. Invariably, he’d point to the underlying dynamics we’d missed, and then he’d hand the clinical conceptualization back to us with a whole new orientation. It wasn’t unusual to present a case, only to find him asking about a particular detail or a nuance I’d hardly paid attention to: Was the young boy resigned to his father’s absence … or stoic with heartbreak? Did the couple ever talk about the failed adoption that happened before their baby’s birth?

Every time, the precise, previously-unseen detail Bob focused on would be the cornerstone for treating the client. Week after week, I felt like I was watching a brilliant alchemist, or a therapeutic ninja master, transforming life wounds into organic growth.

The morning Bob offered his “North Star” comment, a fellow intern had asked how to be more successful with their client: “I want to make a difference, but my client keeps repeating the same old stories.”

Rather than offering a “template” suggestion or a specific intervention, Bob considered the case for a moment, then said, “If you truly want to have an impact, if you want to do work that’s transformative for clients, you need to work every session as if it’s the last time you’ll ever see that person, as if it’s the only chance you’ll have to make a difference for them.”

The room went silent, each of us struggling to grasp what he was pointing to.

You see, most of the clinical guidance I received in my graduate training centered on being somewhat “careful” with clients. I was encouraged to be a comforting presence, gently responsive, slow-paced, and “safe.” All of that guidance was valuable, and I keep it in mind to this day.

But Bob’s input helped me expand my concept of being effective; it was like a clarion call to work more astutely, more intensively. I can be “careful” and be more incisive or bold when that’s appropriate. Those two facets will go together well, as long as I’m working from a place of deep presence and connection (not out of an egotistical need). In fact, Bob’s comments gave me permission to work in a way that gave my client the best chance at facing themselves in new ways and opening themselves up to who they might become.

To be clear, Bob wasn’t talking about the speed of our work with clients: “Work faster! It’s the only chance you have!” He was talking about the profound, authentic, and abiding engagement we should bring to every session—a depth of presence that is the bedrock for transformative work. He was encouraging us to “have an impact”—right now, every moment, with every exchange and every reflection. Not sitting back and hoping we’d achieve some insight in five sessions or twelve sessions; not waiting for a light bulb to go on in the client’s mind; not assuming “something” would somehow shift to make things look different.

Looking back, I understand Bob was challenging us to stay awake in our work, approaching every single session as if it was the one and only time I was going to get the chance to make a difference. Forty years later, I still hold that advice very close as I work. Even with clients I’ve seen for many weeks or months, I approach each session “fresh”—as if this one session will make all the difference in the world for the client. I notice that this approach also models presence and deep engagement for clients; they learn it “in their cells,” as I learned it from Bob. (For many clients who’ve typically had disinterested, distracted, or less-attuned interactions, the simple commitment to being keenly attentive in this way can transformative.)

I now understand Bob was asking us to require that presence of ourselves.

Every session.

The dedication to being masterfully present and engaged has been a good fit for me over four decades, and I’m eternally grateful that Bob opened this possibility for me back at the very beginning of my career—as my career developed, his perspective thoroughly shaped my work.

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“If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”

That quote, which has been attributed to Eubie Blake, resonates well enough to have been repeated by Mickey Mantle, Mae West, and Erma Bombeck, among others. But is it true? Can aging be more tolerable if we take better care of ourselves?

A recent review in the journal Gut Microbiome by Marcus Boehme, Katherine Guzzetta, and colleagues finds that we can indeed improve our twilight years with some specific techniques. In particular, we can optimize our brain by modifying our community of gut microbes—our microbiota. The authors of the study say, “The gut microbiota may be a potential novel target to ameliorate symptoms of brain aging and promote healthy cognition.” That’s good news, because it’s easy to optimize your gut microbes, and you’ll find some tips at the end of this post.

Aging may improve wine or cheese, but it does no favors to our brains. For some, the decline comes with age-related diseases including mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis.

Unbalanced gut microbiota can contribute to age-related mental decline. A study by Aura Ferreiro, Gautam Dantas, and colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine found that a specific profile of microbes is associated with Alzheimer’s. That makes the microbiota a powerful target for managing brain health. The gut microbiota consists of some 30 trillion microbes and plays a critical role in maintaining health, including brain health. The gut microbiota communicates with the brain through various pathways, including hormones, nerves, immunity, and microbial secretions. The conversation goes both ways.

These pathways have been illuminated by the study of germ-free animals, which are known to have a different stress response than their germier cousins. Researchers have also used fecal transplants and antibiotic treatments to modify the microbiota to see how these treatments affect the brain. These studies are solidifying how the gut–brain axis influences cognition, dementia, and brain disease.

Walling off the brain

The brain is immune privileged, meaning it tries to block both microbes and immune cells by maintaining a blood–brain barrier (BBB). But inflammation due to a leaky gut can wear down the BBB, allowing microbes and toxins into the brain, followed closely by immune cells trying to corral and eliminate them. The immune system lacks subtlety and can cause major collateral damage, including the death and destruction of nerve cells, leading to memory loss and cognitive dysfunction.

The composition of the gut microbiota is comparatively stable through youth and midlife, but as we get older, it changes in composition and diversity. The effects of aging on gut microbiome diversity are highly variable, influenced by factors such as diet and environment. Fortunately, much of that is up to us.

There are some good clues about the role of the microbiota: Studies have shown reduced microbial diversity in elderly individuals in nursing homes, associated with degraded health. On the flip side, other studies have observed increased microbial diversity in centenarians living among the general population.

Understanding the causal relationship between gut microbiota and healthy brain aging may lead to the development of new microbial therapies. One thing seems sure: Microbial diversity is key.

How to repair your gut-brain axis

Here are four suggestions backed by recent research to keep your microbes diverse and your brain as young as possible.

1. Exercise

Take it from a writer: It’s easy to sit on your butt all day. It’s also a surefire way to grow frail and unhealthy.

You need to move in order to pump your lymph. So much of the gut–brain story is about immune health, and the lymphatic system is how immune cells get around. There is no heart to pump lymph, so it just sloshes around, prodded by your muscles as you move. If you don’t move, your lymph can’t circulate. Exercise is known to lower inflammation, which may be the most important factor when it comes to health and successful aging. In addition, exercise improves the integrity of your gut lining, further reducing the odds of inflammation.

As we age, we start to lose muscle tone. So, even if you’ve never exercised in your life, you may need to take it up when you get older. Surprisingly, you can build muscle at any age. Exercise works quickly. You can grow new muscle within days of weightlifting. Your gut microbes are also improved with exercise, and, with that, substances are released that can stimulate the growth of new brain cells.

If you have health problems, talk to your doctor before you start an exercise program. But even if all you can manage is bed stretches, you should consider it.

2. Eat Probiotics

Probiotics have been shown to be a safe and simple way to enhance cognition in the elderly. Researchers have found that certain strains of probiotics can improve cognition and memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. One study showed improved cognition using Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. A Japanese study also showed memory improvements using Bifidobacterium breve, while a Korean study showed that consuming soybeans fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum improved attention span.

New studies have uncovered specific bacterial species, including Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, that seem to play a role in optimizing brain function. These bacteria can improve cognitive deficits in animal models and have the potential for improving cognition in people as well.

A simple way to get probiotics is through fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and pickles. Choose ferments with live bacteria if you can. They are in the refrigerator section, not the middle of the store.

Many of the above-listed bacteria have recently become available as supplements. Typically, it takes several days to notice an effect, so keep notes on what is working and try not to mix multiple formulas at once, so you can reduce confusion.

These studies are refreshingly hopeful, but not totally consistent. Most studies find positive effects on cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s using mixtures of probiotics, while others are inconclusive. These are early days for this research, but all studies have found probiotics to be easily tolerated with few if any, side effects. You can’t say the same for many of the current crop of psychoactive drug treatments.

3. Eat Prebiotics

In addition to probiotics, prebiotics, which feed the beneficial microorganisms in our gut, have also been explored for their potential to improve cognitive health in aging. Studies have found that prebiotic mixtures containing inulin and related fructooligosaccharides can reduce frailty, a risk factor for cognitive decline. Other studies have shown that supplementation with prebiotics can improve neuroinflammation, brain metabolites, and gut hormones, potentially influencing cognitive performance.

Because diversity is an important metric of gut health, you should look for a mixture of various prebiotics. Polyphenols are also considered to be prebiotics, so you might want to add those to your regimen as well.

The simplest way to consume prebiotics is by eating colorful, high-fiber veggies and fruits. These include artichokes, onions, legumes, asparagus, and berries. If you can’t get enough of these foods in your diet, consider a supplement, especially one with a mix of different fibers and polyphenols.

Our gut has lots of acids and enzymes, but it still has a hard time digesting fiber and polyphenols. Thus, they make it intact to the colon, which houses the bulk of your microbiota. The beneficial microbes in your gut consider these tough molecules to be delicacies. That’s how prebiotics helps to balance your gut, and—via the gut–brain axis—improve your mind.

4. Go Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve brain health in aging. Components of the Mediterranean diet, such as omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols, have known protective effects on the aging brain. These nutrients can also balance the gut microbiota, which likely contributes to their positive effects on cognition. Studies have demonstrated associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, improved gut microbiota composition, decreased frailty, improved cognition, and reduced inflammatory markers. All this, and it tastes delicious, too.

In sum

Each of these four interventions works to improve the diversity of the gut microbiota, which beefs up the integrity of the gut lining, reduces inflammation, and produces molecules that can improve brain renewal and growth.

The field of microbiota-based strategies for improving cognitive function in aging is still evolving. Further research, including larger controlled trials, is needed to establish the best mix of exercise, probiotics, prebiotics, and diet in promoting cognitive health. But the downside of these interventions is practically nonexistent, so it can’t hurt to give them a try!

References

Boehme, Marcus, Katherine Elizabeth Guzzetta, Caroline Wasén, and Laura Michelle Cox. “The Gut Microbiota Is an Emerging Target for Improving Brain Health during Aging.” Gut Microbiome 4 (2023): e2.

Ferreiro, Aura L., JooHee Choi, Jian Ryou, Erin P. Newcomer, Regina Thompson, Rebecca M. Bollinger, Carla Hall-Moore, et al. “Gut Microbiome Composition May Be an Indicator of Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease.” Science Translational Medicine 15, no. 700 (June 14, 2023): eabo2984.

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No wonder I was looking for solace when I walked into the building that housed a local writers’ center in my community. It was literally a one-room schoolhouse, except it was an old train station, not used, but still right next to the train tracks. The building was also right on the Hudson River so I always tried to sit on the side of the table that afforded me that magnificent view.

James Pennebaker, a psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, has studied how writing about emotional upheavals in our lives can improve physical and mental health. Pennebaker found that “One of the brain’s functions is to help us understand events in our lives. Writing helps construct a narrative to contextualize trauma and organize ideas.”

What I found when I wrote is it wasn’t even about my mental health diagnoses and what I experienced during the three decades I was so ill—the numerous psychiatric admissions, the cutting, the starving, the multiple suicide attempts. It was important to process those, but it was more important to dig underneath and process what caused me to become sick. I wasn’t sexually abused, a trauma widely perceived as a cause of borderline personality disorder, nor was I physically abused. I was emotionally and verbally abused by my alcoholic father and I grew up in an invalidating environment as described by Marsha Linehan. When I cried, as I often would, my father in his intoxicated state would say to me, “Stop crying or I’ll really give you something to cry about.” I learned to halt my tears and flee to my room.

Harvard Health suggests that the process of writing may enable us to learn to better regulate our emotions. “It’s also possible that writing about something fosters an intellectual process — the act of constructing a story about a traumatic event — that helps someone break free of the endless mental cycling more typical of brooding or rumination.”

© Writers Digest

Writing helped me shed my anorexic identity. I was able to replace the idea that I only existed to be anorexic and introduce the idea that I could potentially be a writer. The high I felt from seeing the numbers decrease on the scale was only rivaled by the high I felt when I saw my name in print. Writing was not compatible with starving. I discovered that if I was malnourished, my cognitive ability was impaired and I was unable to write well. I made the choice to write. The more I wrote, the calmer and less impulsive I became across all aspects of my life. I stopped cutting myself. I didn’t have the need to weigh myself as often, which led to less obsessing over the numbers. I wasn’t consciously counting calories. I focused my efforts on crafting the perfect sentence, paragraph, and essay. The sense of accomplishment I used to feel when I looked in the mirror and saw my bones I now felt when I hit “send” to submit a piece to a literary journal or magazine.

At a week-long writing workshop I attended, I sat in the audience listening to a panel of authors. During the Q & A period I waited until the end and raised my hand. “How do you know when you’re a writer?” I practically whispered. The author leaned in and answered, “If you write, then you’re a writer.”

And so I am.

Thanks for reading.

Andrea

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