If you’ve read anything on my blog, you may know that I’ve traditionally taken a traditional approach to treat my OCD, anxiety, and depression, e.g., exposure response therapy (ERP) and western medicine. There have been ups and downs—a lot of downs—but I’ve found a recipe that works. At least for now. Over time, I’ve openedContinue reading “What’s Rui-katsu? (+ Why Crying is Good for You)”
Author Archives: Andrew
What South Korea’s “Hitting Mung” Can Do For Your Stress
If you’ve spent any amount of time reading about mental health treatment—or just mental health in general—you’ve likely come across something called “hitting mung.” If you have, you’re familiar with its potential superpower status. If you haven’t, you should keep reading—I bet you’ll be convinced by the end. What’s Hitting Mung? The pandemic led toContinue reading “What South Korea’s “Hitting Mung” Can Do For Your Stress”
A Guide to Solo Traveling with Anxiety in 2022
Doing anything alone can be scary, but solo traveling may take the cake. Add to that some anxiety and other mental health struggles, and you could be in for some troubling times—so much so that solo traveling with anxiety may seem out of the question. While solo traveling has challenges, many of which intensify with anxiety, thereContinue reading “A Guide to Solo Traveling with Anxiety in 2022 “
8 of the Best Tours in Athens Greece for Stress-free Fun
Approximately 34.2 million people visited Greece in 2019. Where did a lot of them go? Athens. As the capital of Greece, Athens draws millions of tourists a year—and rightfully so; it’s an amazing place full of history, art, and culture. Simply put, it’s perfect for everyone. For experienced and novice travelers alike, the large crowds, endlessContinue reading “8 of the Best Tours in Athens Greece for Stress-free Fun”
Post-travel Depression: 6 Ways to Get Over It
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been on the road or in the sky, post-travel depression is all too real. I feel it. You feel it. We all feel it. The question is: How can you deal with it? How to Get Over Post-travel Depression Depression has the unparalleled ability to knock even the bestContinue reading “Post-travel Depression: 6 Ways to Get Over It”
Mediterranean Diet and Depression: Can it Help?
As I write this less than 72 hours before my first trip to the Mediterranean, I thought, “What can I write about?” “How can I connect my time in Greece to mental health?” Ancient Greece came to mind and how people living during those times viewed and managed their mental health. I also considered writingContinue reading “Mediterranean Diet and Depression: Can it Help?”
Travel Anxiety 101: Everything You Need to Know
Anxiety is a normal part of life. In fact, more than 40 million people—or 19% of the US population—have an anxiety disorder. That percentage increases to 25% when you look specifically at the number of people who have travel anxiety. So yeah, travel anxiety is natural and something I deal with all the time. Let’sContinue reading “Travel Anxiety 101: Everything You Need to Know”
8 of the Best Walking Tours in NYC for Stress-free Fun
A quick Google search for “best walking tours in NYC” will return a seemingly endless list of options from which to choose. Broaden your search to “walking tours in NYC” and that list becomes even more daunting. Now, I’m not one to shy away from options, especially when it comes to exploring different parts ofContinue reading “8 of the Best Walking Tours in NYC for Stress-free Fun”
What’s the OCD Institute (OCDI)?
Let’s start with a story. It was 2018 and my grandma just passed away. I just got out of a long-term relationship and I was about seventy pounds heavier than ever before. I was at rock bottom. After some tough conversations with my doctors and parents, I came to the conclusion that I needed anotherContinue reading “What’s the OCD Institute (OCDI)?”
What’s Ikigai and Can It Help Your Mental Health?
If you’re like me, you’re always down to experiment with new ways to improve your mental health and find happiness. So, I’m sure you can guess what I did when I came across Ikigai, a Japanese concept referring to something that gives you a sense of purpose and reason for living. (Actually, I have toContinue reading “What’s Ikigai and Can It Help Your Mental Health?”