The Connection Between Anxiety and Chronic Uncertainty Anxiety often gets framed as excessive worry or fear that appears “out of nowhere.” But for many people, anxiety isn’t random at all—it’s a natural response to living in a state of ongoing uncertainty. When life feels unpredictable, unstable, or unsafe, the nervous system responds by remaining in a state of high alert. Over time, that constant state of readiness can turn into chronic anxiety. Understanding the relationshi

Prefrontal Cortex: Why Cognitive Coping Strategies Don’t Always Work As mental health professionals, we often talk about giving clients “cognitive coping skills” to help them manage stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm. These might include reframing negative thoughts, challenging cognitive distortions, or using self-talk to interrupt unhelpful thinking patterns. And while these tools can be incredibly effective, there are moments when they do not work—not because the clie

Economic insecurity, financial stress, and material hardship affect millions of people worldwide — and emerging evidence shows that financial hardship can itself function as a form of trauma, carrying serious mental-health consequences. When living with continuing financial instability, housing or food insecurity, worry about bills or medical costs, or repeated economic setbacks, many people experience chronic stress, despair, shame, or even post-traumatic stress symptoms. Fo