Discover a curated collection of inspiring tips and encouragement from Light On Anxiety, your go-to source for mental health insights and empowering content.
Anxiety wants certainty. Summer offers something better — actual memories. 💙 ㅤ The problem with skipping events because of anxiety isn`t just missing the fun. It`s that every time you avoid, your brain learns the lesson: I can`t handle that. ㅤ The good news? You can absolutely unlearn it. ㅤ At LOA, we use CBT and Exposure therapy to help people stop letting anxiety make their decisions — and start actually living their lives. ㅤ This summer in Chicago is too good to sit out. 🎶 ㅤ 🔗 Link in bio → Full article: Lollapalooza, Street Festivals & Summer Events ㅤ #anxietyrecovery #crowdanxiety #chicagosummer #cbttherapy #exposuretherapy #lightonanxiety #panicattack #agoraphobia #socialanxiety #mentalhealth #anxietytips #anxietynearme
🎲 Helping kids build coping skills—one game at a time! 💙
Play can be a great way to help kids practice important skills like slowing down, taking deep breaths, recognizing big feelings, and learning how to respond when emotions run high. 💙
In this video, Elyse Panzella, MA, and Jennie Hart, M.S., show how a simple board game can become an opportunity to build emotional regulation skills in a fun and engaging way.
Sometimes, the best way to learn coping skills is to play your way through them. 🧠🎲
Is emetophobia “normal,” or is it an anxiety disorder? 🤔
Fear of vomiting is more common than you might think—but when that fear starts interfering with your daily life, influencing your choices, or causing significant distress, it may be more than a typical fear.
In this video, Alexis Cohen, LCSW, takes a closer look at emetophobia and what it can mean for those experiencing it.
What most people get wrong about BDD — it`s not a beauty problem. It`s an anxiety problem. 💙 ㅤ Body Dysmorphic Disorder is classified alongside OCD in the DSM-5, and for good reason. The obsessive thoughts, the compulsive behaviors, the temporary relief that makes everything worse over time — it`s the same loop. ㅤ The brain locks onto a perceived flaw and treats it like a threat. The rituals feel necessary. But every check, every comparison, every reassurance-seek teaches your brain: this threat is real and I can`t handle it. ㅤ What actually moves the needle isn`t getting rid of the thoughts. It`s changing your relationship to them — and learning to live your life while they`re there. ㅤ CBT + ERP therapy can help. Our clinicians specialize in this exact pattern. ㅤ 🔗 Link in bio → Body Dysmorphic Disorder: What It Is & How We Treat It at Light On Anxiety ㅤ
Therapeutic truths that are easy to hear, but hard to accept. 🤍
Healing can feel uncomfortable before it feels peaceful. Your self-worth doesn’t have to be earned. And setting boundaries can bring guilt—even when you’re doing what’s best for you.
Growth isn’t always comfortable, but discomfort doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Sometimes, it means you’re learning to choose yourself in new ways. 🌱
Heading back to school? 📚✨ Let’s make the transition a little easier!
In this video, we’re sharing simple executive functioning strategies for students and staff, including breaking big tasks into smaller steps, finding a scheduling system that works for you, and using calming techniques during times of stress. 🧠💡
Small strategies can make a big difference in feeling more organized, focused, and prepared for the school year ahead!
☀️ Light On Anxiety 👩⚕️ CBT Treatment for Anxiety and Mental Health 📍 Multiple Locations in Chicagoland + Telehealth 📞 312.508.3645 📲 [email protected]
Your nightstand might be working against you — and you don`t even know it. 💙 ㅤ Our CEO Dr. Debra Kissen was recently featured in Forbes Vetted breaking down the 5 items on your bedside table that are quietly sabotaging your sleep. Spoiler: it`s not just your phone. ㅤ Sleep and anxiety are deeply connected. When sleep suffers, anxiety rises. When anxiety rises, sleep suffers. ㅤ Save this, clear your nightstand, and share it with someone whose sleep has been off. ㅤ 🔗 Full article at the link in bio → Forbes Vetted: 5 Items On Your Nightstand That Are Harming Your Sleep ㅤ #sleep #sleepanxiety #betttersleep #insomniatips #lightonanxiety #drdebrakissen #forbes #forbesveted #sleeptips #nightstand #anxietytips #mentalhealthtips #cbttherapy #anxietynearme
We had the best time at our Summer Social at Park & Field! ☀️🌸✨ Grateful for the opportunity to come together, connect, and celebrate our amazing team! 💛
Progress with anxiety rarely looks dramatic — it looks like getting your life back one step at a time. ㅤ Swipe through the comments for what real progress actually looks like, and save this for the days you need the reminder. ㅤ Progress doesn`t have to feel dramatic to be real. Light On Anxiety helps Chicago area clients track the wins that matter — even the quiet ones. ㅤ Book a free consult (link in bio) and start reclaiming your life, step by step. 🌱 ㅤ #LightOnAnxiety #AnxietyRecovery #ProgressNotPerfection #HealingIsNotLinear #GetYourLifeBack #ChicagoTherapy #ChicagoTherapist #AnxietyTherapyChicago #ChicagoMentalHealth #TherapyJourney
✨ Come take a look inside our Lincoln Park location!
We’re excited to bring Light On Anxiety’s evidence-based mental health care to the neighborhood with a space designed to feel welcoming, comfortable, and supportive from the moment you walk in.
Our team is here to help you better understand what you’re experiencing and build the tools you need to move forward—whether you’re dealing with anxiety, OCD, stress, or a major life transition.
We’re so happy to be part of the Lincoln Park community!
📍 Light On Anxiety – Lincoln Park 1901 N Clybourn Ave, Suite 401 Chicago, IL 60614 📞 (773) 207-4771
If you’re in Chicago and looking for support, we’d love to welcome you in 💙
☀️ Light On Anxiety 👩 ⚕️ CBT Treatment for Anxiety and Mental Health 📍 Multiple Locations in Chicagoland + Telehealth 📞 312.508.3645 📲 [email protected]
Fall tryouts can bring a lot of nerves—but you have more control than you think. 🍂💭
In this video, Nina Deer, LSW, shares tips for managing tryout anxiety, focusing on what’s in your control, using positive self-talk, and reframing anxiety as excitement.
Your body might be feeling nervous because you care—and that energy can help you show up, stay focused, and do your best. 💪
You don’t have to eliminate the nerves. Learn to work with them. 🤍
CBT isn`t just "think positive" — it`s a whole toolkit for breaking anxiety loops. ㅤ Swipe through all 7 comments for the full breakdown, then save this post so you can come back to it. 🔖 ㅤ Ready to break the patterns keeping anxiety in charge? ㅤ Light On Anxiety uses CBT that`s built around your real life — not a script. ㅤ Book a free consult (link in bio) and start learning the skills that actually stick. Multiple Chicago area location 🧠 ㅤ #LightOnAnxiety #CBTWorks #AnxietyPatterns #EvidenceBasedTherapy #AnxietyToolkit #ChicagoTherapy #ChicagoTherapist #ChicagoMentalHealth #AnxietyTherapyChicago #TherapyThatWorks ㅤ
Some mood changes are a normal part of the menstrual cycle. ㅤ PMDD is not. ㅤ If anxiety, depression, irritability, or emotional overwhelm show up at the same time every month—and then seem to disappear once your period begins—it may be more than "just PMS." ㅤ This carousel breaks down the signs of PMDD, why it happens, and why understanding the pattern matters. ㅤ Save this for later, or share it with someone who`s been told to "just deal with it." 💙 ㅤ You don`t have to dismiss what you`re experiencing. With the right evaluation and evidence-based treatment, PMDD is manageable. ㅤ ☀️ Light On Anxiety 👩⚕️ CBT Treatment for Anxiety and Mental Health 📍 Multiple Locations in Chicagoland + Telehealth 📞 312.508.3645 📲 [email protected] ㅤ #LightOnAnxiety #PMDDAwareness #PMDD #PremenstrualDysphoricDisorder #HormonalMentalHealth #MentalHealthEducation #WomensMentalHealth #AnxietySupport #DepressionSupport #CBTTherapy #ChicagoTherapist #ChicagolandTherapy #MentalWellness #anxietynearme #naperchamber ㅤ | PMDD | premenstrual dysphoric disorder | women`s mental health | hormonal anxiety | hormonal depression | CBT for PMDD | Chicagoland therapy | local therapy | Light On Anxiety |
Our CEO & Founder, Dr. Debra Kissen, will be on NBC Chicago today at 4:00 PM CT with @kate_chappell_news , discussing the impact of storms and severe weather on stress and anxiety. ⛈️🧠
Tune in to hear Dr. Kissen share insight on how weather events can affect our mental health and what we can do to manage weather-related anxiety.
Every fall, we see kids — and parents — who are really struggling with the back-to-school transition. And most of them waited months before getting help, assuming it would just pass. 💙 ㅤ What to watch for: ㅤ Persistent sadness, worry, or hopelessness Stomach aches or headaches before school Trouble sleeping or concentrating Social withdrawal or irritability Refusing to go to school ㅤ Adjustment Disorder is triggered by life transitions. It`s more than "nerves" — but it`s also highly treatable, especially with CBT. ㅤ If your child (or you) is struggling more than expected with the start of a new school year, this is exactly what we treat at Light On Anxiety. ㅤ 🔗 Link in bio → Full article: Adjustment Disorder: Navigating Back-to-School Transitions with Resilience ㅤ #backtoschool #adjustmentdisorder #backtoschoolanxiety #schoolanxiety #kidsmentalhealth #childanxiety #parentingtips #lightonanxiety #cbttherapy #anxietyinchildren #schoolrefusal #mentalhealth #anxietynearme
That constant ringing, buzzing, or humming isn`t "just in your ears." ㅤ For many people, tinnitus can become emotionally exhausting. The more attention your brain gives the sound, the louder and more intrusive it can begin to feel. ㅤ The good news? ㅤ There are evidence-based strategies that can help reduce the distress tinnitus causes. While the sound may not disappear overnight, your relationship with it can change—and that can make a meaningful difference. ㅤ In this video, Rachel Eriksen from Light On Anxiety explains why tinnitus can feel so overwhelming and how therapy can help you respond to it in a healthier, more manageable way. 💙 ㅤ If tinnitus has been affecting your daily life, know that you don`t have to navigate it alone. ㅤ ☀️ Light On Anxiety 👩⚕️ CBT Treatment for Anxiety and Mental Health 📍 Multiple Locations in Chicagoland + Telehealth 📞 312.508.3645 📲 [email protected] ㅤ #Tinnitus #TinnitusSupport #AnxietyTreatment #CBTTherapy #MentalHealthMatters #TinnitusAwareness #AnxietySupport #EvidenceBasedTherapy #ChicagoTherapist #ChicagolandTherapy #LocalTherapy #MentalWellness #LightOnAnxiety #naperchamber #anxietynearme #cbtnearme ㅤ | tinnitus therapy | CBT for tinnitus | tinnitus anxiety | tinnitus support | evidence-based therapy | anxiety treatment | Chicagoland therapy | local therapy | Light On Anxiety |
POV: summer break is officially coming to an end 📚😅
Transitioning back to school can bring a mix of excitement, stress, and a lot of feelings. In this video, Hannah Turner, LPC, shares helpful tips for navigating the transition, getting back into a routine, and giving yourself time to adjust.
Back-to-school season can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety — for both kids and parents.
Light On Anxiety therapist Michelle Lorenzen, MSW shares one of her favorite tips for easing that transition:
✨ Make time to truly connect. Whether it’s a milkshake run, a cozy walk, or a few quiet moments at home — carving out intentional time with your child can open space for meaningful conversations.
Ask them: 💬 What are your goals or worries for the year ahead? Then share your own. Showing your child that you also have emotions, hopes, and fears helps normalize their experience and strengthen your bond 💙
💻 Need more back-to-school support? Reach out to us today!
☀️ Light On Anxiety 👩⚕️ CBT Treatment for Anxiety and Mental Health 📍 Multiple Locations in Chicagoland + Telehealth 📞 312.508.3645 📲 [email protected]
4 things anxious attachment does to your nervous system — and why they make total sense. 🧠 ㅤ Rest feels suspicious, not relaxing. You rehearse worst-case scenarios to feel "prepared." Reassurance works for 5 minutes, then resets. Calm relationships feel "boring" at first. ㅤ None of these are character flaws. They`re adaptations. ㅤ If you grew up in an environment that felt unpredictable, emotionally inconsistent, or unsafe — your nervous system learned to stay on high alert. ㅤ That was smart. It was protective. ㅤ The problem is your nervous system doesn`t automatically know when the environment has changed. It keeps running the same old programming in relationships, at work, in quiet moments, everywhere. ㅤ That`s where the work happens. Not "trying harder to relax" — but actually teaching your nervous system what safety feels like. ㅤ It`s learnable. We promise. ㅤ 💙 Follow for more anxiety science that actually makes sense. And if you`re ready for support, we`re at the link in bio — 8 locations across Chicagoland + telehealth. ㅤ #anxiousattachment #attachmenttheory #anxietytips #nervoussystem #lightononanxiety #therapistsoftiktok #mentalhealth #cbt #relationshipanxiety #attachmentstyles #mentalhealthawareness #chicagotherapy #anxietynearme #cbtnearme
Our newest location is now open, making it easier than ever to access evidence-based therapy and compassionate mental health care close to home.
Whether you’re beginning your mental health journey or continuing your care, our team is here to support you every step of the way.💙
Stop by, call us, or reach out to learn more about how to get started.
📍 1901 N Clybourn Ave. Suite 401, Chicago, IL 60614 📞 (773) 207-4771 __
☀️ Light On Anxiety 👩⚕️ CBT Treatment for Anxiety and Mental Health 📍 Multiple Locations in Chicagoland + Telehealth 📞 312.508.3645 📲 [email protected]
If you are looking for therapy, medication or combined mental health treatment, learn more about how Light On Anxiety can create a custom individual treatment plan to fit your goals.
Thank you so much for your awesome support with our son that has helped our family on every level! You definitely guide us to get unstuck and be more effective!
Thank you so much for all you’ve done for me. My self-esteem and overall comfort in life are beyond what I thought was possible. I started out at rock bottom when we started, but now I think I’ve got what it takes to keep living life more fully.
I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how thankful I am for you and for connecting me with my Light On Anxiety therapist. We have met for a few sessions and she has been beyond helpful. I really love how she listens and has resources and action plans to help me work through my anxiety. She has been a tremendous help.
You have a wonderful gift and help a lot of people who really need it! I was very much in major distress before we met but now feel pretty much almost back to normal. I learned a lot from our sessions.
I LOVE how organized the practice is. From the online portal to the treatment plan -- it's nice to have things streamlined.
