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The Invisible Struggle: Coping with Emotional Exhaustion and Hidden Burnout
There’s a kind of exhaustion that doesn’t always look like exhaustion. It doesn’t always look like tears, canceled plans, or staying in bed all day. Sometimes it looks like getting up anyway, getting into your…
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The Truth About Creativity: Beyond Perfectionism
For most of my life, I believed creativity had to be perfect to be worth sharing. I thought that if I made something clumsy or lackluster, I would be shamed for it. I…
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Meals That Make Conversation Easier
I recently attended an engagement party with a mix of close friends and some new people I’d never met before. Normally, walking into a room full of strangers makes me nervous. Socializing can…
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Post-Vacation Blues: Coming Home After an Amazing Trip
Do you ever get post-vacation blues? I certainly do. For me, there’s nothing like going on vacation—exploring new places, trying new things, and spending time with loved ones. But when it ends, I…
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The Loneliness of the Observant: Navigating Social Dynamics
I’ve always been a very intuitive and observant person. I’m the one who notices a jaw tighten or an eye roll before anyone utters a word. The one who can feel the underlying…
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The Power of Quiet Strength in My Life Story
I was a quiet girl who mistook her silence for smallness. For most of my life, I described myself as quiet, shy, and reserved. I was the girl who observed more than she…
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Balancing Social Life and Recognizing Your Energy Limits
I can be surprisingly good at socializing. That’s the part that makes it hard to explain. I know how to ask thoughtful questions, how to laugh at the right moments, and how to appear engaged,…
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Why Does My Brain Freeze in Social Situations?
Lately, I’ve been out of town, and there have been moments that scared me a little. I’ll be in the middle of a conversation, and my brain just draws blanks — not in a…
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Why I Romanticize Rain (And Silence)
I’m currently spending the month in Portland, Oregon, and I’ve been trying to adjust to the weather out here. I’m used to the sunshine, heat, and light weather of Southern California. Every time I come…
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Overthinking Love: A Neurodivergent Perspective
The author expresses their challenges with dating as a neurodivergent individual who feels uncomfortable in social situations and often overthinks interactions. Their experiences have led to a protective mindset, leading to avoidance of…
