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The Exhaustion of "Performing Joy": Are You Fawning Through The Holidays?
There is a specific moment I hear about constantly in my practice during December. It’s the moment you get back to your car after the family dinner, or the moment the last guest leaves your house. The door closes. The silence hits. And you don’t just feel tired. You feel hollow. You spent the last six hours smiling, nodding, refilling drinks, de-escalating awkward political conversations, and ensuring everyone else had a "magical" time. You were the perfect host, the perfect

Becky VanDenburgh
2 days ago3 min read


Why You Secretly Dread The Holidays (It’s Not Because You’re Mean) The 4 Types of Holiday Anxiety.
We need to stop using the word "Stress." It’s too vague. It’s too polite. "Stress" is what you feel when you are running late for a meeting. What you feel during the holidays is something else entirely. It’s a tightness in your chest. It’s the urge to hide in the bathroom. It’s the feeling that you are one passive-aggressive comment away from exploding. If you find yourself dreading the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year," you aren't a Grinch. You are likely battling one of the

Becky VanDenburgh
Dec 173 min read


Why You Feel Bone Deep Exhaustion Around Your Family
As the holidays approach, I start hearing a very specific kind of fatigue from my clients.Not just tired. Not just stressed.I mean bone deep exhaustion. It is the exhaustion that comes from a brain running a constant threat scan.Like having 100 browser tabs open, all playing different videos at once. And the moment you step through the door of your childhood home, this exhaustion hits like a wave. You can be a CEO, a parent, a therapist, a leader.But ten minutes in your fami

Becky VanDenburgh
Dec 33 min read


The "Broken Bomber" & The "Ignore Bomb": A Therapist’s Guide to the Exhaustion You Can't Explain
Have you ever felt magnetically pulled toward a partner who seems to be the source of both your deepest pain and your only relief? Do you feel less like a partner and more like a permanent "Rescuer"? In my practice, I often hear survivors describe a level of fatigue that sleep can’t touch. We call it "bone-deep exhaustion." It’s the feeling of a brain that is constantly scanning for threats—like a browser with 100 tabs open, all playing different videos at once. Recently, I s

Becky VanDenburgh
Nov 275 min read


Beyond Reacting: A Therapist’s Guide to Grey Rock and Yellow Rock for Narcissistic Abuse
How to reclaim your peace, starve a narcissist of supply, and navigate high-conflict co-parenting . The Exhaustion You Feel Is Real (And It's By Design) Have you ever felt magnetically pulled toward a person who is the source of your deepest pain? Does the world sometimes feel unreal, as if you're watching a movie of your own life, with the line between your inner thoughts and the outside world starting to blur? If you're reading this, you likely know the bone-deep exhaustion

Becky VanDenburgh
Nov 1810 min read


Your Brain Has an Off Switch: The 15-Minute, Science-Backed Routine to Tame Stress and Reclaim Your Calm
Ever feel like your brain is a browser with 100 tabs open, all playing different videos at once? The to-do lists, the worries, the mental chatter—it can feel impossible to find the off switch. When stress takes over, it hijacks your focus, your mood, and even your physical body, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. What if you could hit a reset button? Not in an hour, or even thirty minutes, but in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Good news: you can. Top

Becky VanDenburgh
Nov 114 min read


Beyond the Reflection: A Deep Dive into How Narcissism Develops
One day, they shower you with affection, making you feel like the center of their universe. The next, a minor disagreement triggers a cold rage that leaves you feeling confused, small, and questioning your own reality. If this dizzying cycle feels familiar, you know the profound exhaustion of being in a relationship with someone who may have narcissistic traits. The term "narcissist" is frequently used in popular culture to describe anyone who seems vain or self-centered. How

Becky VanDenburgh
Nov 411 min read


What Are You Supposed to Notice During EMDR THERAPY? A Therapist Explains
You've made the brave decision to start EMDR therapy. You’ve heard it can be incredibly effective for processing trauma, anxiety, and deeply held negative beliefs. But as your first session approaches, one big question might be looping in your mind: What am I supposed to notice? It’s a perfect question. Many people worry they might "do it wrong" or not experience what they're "supposed" to. First, let's get one thing out of the way. As a therapist, I can assure you: There is

Becky VanDenburgh
Oct 284 min read


Can't Get Back to Sleep? This 4-Step Eye Movement Technique Calms a Racing Mind in Minutes
It’s the cruelest irony of the night. The moment you need your brain to be quiet, it decides to throw a rave. The red numbers on the clock glow—3:17 AM—and you’re wide awake. Your mind is a whirlwind of to-do lists, replayed conversations, and what-if scenarios. You know you need to sleep, but the more you stress about it, the more alert you become. If you’re tired of losing sleep to a racing mind, you’re in the right place. Forget counting sheep. We’re going to explore a sim

Becky VanDenburgh
Oct 214 min read


When Your Past Haunts Your Present: Unpacking the Link Between Trauma and Psychosis
Does the world sometimes feel… unreal? As if you’re watching a movie of your own life, or the line between your inner thoughts and the world outside has started to blur? For many, these unsettling feelings are confusing and frightening. Often, they are the echoes of a past trauma reshaping present reality in profound ways. This connection between trauma and psychosis is a path many people walk, yet it's one we rarely discuss openly. Let’s change that. Here at Think Well, Live

Becky VanDenburgh
Oct 145 min read


Navigating Relationships: What Is the Hardest Attachment Style to Date?
Have you ever felt stuck in the same frustrating relationship pattern, wondering why connection sometimes feels like a maze you can't...

Becky VanDenburgh
Oct 74 min read


Feeling Stuck? Why It's So Hard to Leave a Toxic Relationship (And How to Break the Trauma Bond
Have you ever felt magnetically pulled toward a person who is the source of your deepest pain? A relationship that feels like an...

Becky VanDenburgh
Sep 294 min read


Can Trauma Cause Memory Loss? Understanding the Brain's Response
Have you ever tried to recall a stressful event, only to find the details are blurry or missing entirely? It's a surprisingly common...

Becky VanDenburgh
Sep 233 min read


What's Your Relationship Style? Unlocking the Secrets of Attachment Theory for a Stronger Connection
Do you find yourself stuck in the same painful relationship patterns, moving from one partner to the next only to face the same anxieties...

Becky VanDenburgh
Sep 155 min read


How to Rewire Your Anxious Brain: The Science of Using Exercise for Mental Clarity
That familiar tightness in your chest. The racing thoughts that spiral into "what if" scenarios. The overwhelming feeling that you're...

Becky VanDenburgh
Sep 84 min read


High-Functioning Anxiety: The Hidden Struggle Behind a Put-Together Life
Introduction Picture this: you’re the dependable one. At work, you meet deadlines. At home, you keep everything running. To the outside...

Becky VanDenburgh
Sep 33 min read


Trauma Bonds: Understanding, Breaking Free, and Healing
Trauma bonds are one of the most confusing and painful experiences someone can go through. They often form in toxic or abusive...

Becky VanDenburgh
Aug 83 min read


Loneliness: The Quiet Struggle No One Talks About
Loneliness isn't just about being alone—it’s about feeling disconnected, unseen, or emotionally isolated, even when surrounded by others....

Becky VanDenburgh
Jul 292 min read


How Anxiety Affects Your Sleep (and What You Can Do About It)
If you've ever laid in bed with your mind racing, you're not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common causes of sleep disturbances,...

Becky VanDenburgh
Jun 201 min read


What is the RAS?
RAS The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons located in the brainstem that plays a crucial role in attention,...

Becky VanDenburgh
Mar 233 min read
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