No matter where I travel (as long as it’s an overnight trip), I always find a book to remember my experience. So, for example, after I went to San Francisco, California in 2019, I picked up a copy of Mr. Monk Goes to Germany by Lee Goldberg because the story takes place in San Francisco.Continue reading “Infinite Happiness: Books That Remind Me of My Travels “
Author Archives: Andrew
8 of the Absolute Best Scandinavian Souvenirs You Can Buy
If you’re like me, you take souvenir shopping very seriously. Whether I’m traveling overseas or domestically, I plan my trips around authentic experiences and, well, souvenirs. Some variations of “things you can only do X” or “souvenirs you can only buy in X.” When I went to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden in 2018, I didContinue reading “8 of the Absolute Best Scandinavian Souvenirs You Can Buy”
Controlled Breathing: A 1,000-word Intro to This Mindfulness Superpower
There are far too many treatment options for someone with a mental illness. Should I see my PCP? Do I need a psychiatrist? What about meds? Does meditation work? What’s the deal with adaptogens? Is controlled breathing worth a try? And the worst part is that instituting any of these treatment methods takes time—you can’tContinue reading “Controlled Breathing: A 1,000-word Intro to This Mindfulness Superpower”
Flight Anxiety: Strategies and Natural Supplements to Manage It in the Air
I could write a book about all the things that make me anxious. Flight anxiety is unquestionably the most inconvenient one considering I like to travel so much. I’m not afraid of flying, but I’d be lying if it didn’t make me a little jittery. I find that the best indication of whether or notContinue reading “Flight Anxiety: Strategies and Natural Supplements to Manage It in the Air”
A $10,000 Cruise: My OCD-Induced Compulsive Spending
A ten thousand dollar cruise to Europe, and it’s leaving next week. That happened a couple of years ago. I impulsively purchased a $10,000 cruise. Why? Because my OCD was making me anxious and buying things calms me down. I guess that’s just my life with OCD—where irrational thoughts mingle and fall in love withContinue reading “A $10,000 Cruise: My OCD-Induced Compulsive Spending”
Exposure Response Therapy: How it Changed My Life (and How it Can Change Yours, Too)
If someone asked me how many doctors I’ve seen in my life for my mental health, I’d say about a dozen. I don’t remember the first time a doctor—of any kind—looked me in the eyes and said, “Andrew, you have a mental illness.” My best guess is that it happened toward the end of highContinue reading “Exposure Response Therapy: How it Changed My Life (and How it Can Change Yours, Too)”
OCD IRL: Emily’s Story
I remember the day the chemical imbalance in my brain was triggered for the first time. It was finals week at nursing school, and I was working diligently to keep my 4.0 GPA. Then, I came down with pink eye and an infection, which meant I wasn’t able to spend the week preparing as I’dContinue reading “OCD IRL: Emily’s Story”
How I Kept My Mental Health in Check During the First Month on My Own
Again, I apologize. This isn’t the way I envisioned Strategic Wander starting. With traveling out of the question, however, this will have to suffice. Trust me. I’d much rather be exploring the practice of meditation and its link to mental wellness or meeting with an endurance athlete to understand their lifestyle’s mental toll. However, IContinue reading “How I Kept My Mental Health in Check During the First Month on My Own”
Caffeine and OCD: The Role it Plays in My OCD Journey
Let’s be real: the world runs on caffeine. There are many reasons why that’s true, none of which I want to get into, though. That’s a narrative for someone else’s blog. The point I’m trying to make goes no further than the fact that we love caffeine. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I startedContinue reading “Caffeine and OCD: The Role it Plays in My OCD Journey”
Why I Waited Until I Was 27 to Move Out
I get it. This probably isn’t the captivating inaugural blog post you hoped for when you decided to wander over here. Sorry, there won’t be any compelling stories of touching down in India and spending a week exploring Buddhism. Similarly, there won’t be a tale of training with an endurance athlete to understand the mentalContinue reading “Why I Waited Until I Was 27 to Move Out”