Advertise on podcast: Healing Is My Hobby

Why Do I Feel 15 Again Around My Family? You can manage a team, raise kids, pay a mortgage, and do the work in therapy, and then one comment at Thanksgiving has you thinking, This is why I moved away. In this episode, Jessica Colarco, LCSW, kicks off a new month on family and the holidays by bringing everything we've learned about anxiety, avoidance, and the protective nervous system into the room with the people who know exactly where our buttons are. We look at how childhood experiences shape the roles we take on (the peacekeeper, the fixer, the achiever, the caretaker, the funny one, the one who never needed anything), and why so many of us slip back into those old scripts the moment we walk into a familiar house. Jessica explains why our reactions to family can feel bigger than the moment itself, why getting triggered doesn't mean your healing isn't working, and how to understand family patterns without turning anyone into a villain. In this episode: Why family can trigger us faster than anyone else, and why "they installed the buttons" holds some truthHow family roles form, and why they quietly come back as adultsWhy your nervous system responds to familiar people, tones, and dynamics before you consciously noticeWhat progress actually looks like: noticing sooner, recovering faster, and keeping the boundary even when you feel guiltyWhy we feel younger around family, and how we react to the history behind a comment, not just the commentUnderstanding vs. blame: holding compassion for your family while still acknowledging what hurtAsking "How did this role help me?" instead of "Why am I like this?"What belongs to you and what doesn't: caring about someone's feelings vs. being responsible for managing them Your practice this week: Before the holidays, get curious. Ask yourself: Who do I become around my family?What does that version of me believe their job is?Do I still need that job? You don't have to change anything yet. Awareness comes before choice. Coming up next week: We're talking about parts: the people-pleaser, the fixer, the caretaker, the defensive part, the approval-seeker, and the part that just wants to eat pie in peace. We'll look at them not as problems to get rid of, but as parts of you that learned to protect you. Free resource: Download Your Personal Care Plan from Jessica's free resource library at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com Connect: 📩 Join the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Follow @healingismyhobby on Instagram ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Learn more about Jessica's clinical practice at jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicacolarcolcsw 🎵 Follow Jessica on TikTok @jessicacolarcolcsw family triggers, holiday stress, family roles, family dynamics, Thanksgiving anxiety, people pleasing, peacekeeper, caretaker role, family of origin, childhood roles, nervous system regulation, triggered by family, healing progress, feeling like a kid around parents, approval seeking, defensiveness, emotional responsibility, boundaries with family, generational patterns, intergenerational trauma, inner child, parts work, IFS, protective parts, self-compassion, anxiety therapy, CBT, trauma-informed therapy, holiday mental health, Healing Is My Hobby, Jessica Colarco LCSW The freebie URL came through garbled in the transcript, so I used your Kajabi hub address (heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com). Double-check that's where Your Personal Care Plan lives.

You Don't Have to Believe Every Anxious Thought We've spent this whole month on anxiety: problems versus predictions, anxiety as a protective alarm, and the anxiety loop that keeps us checking, avoiding, and seeking reassurance. In this episode, Jessica brings it all together with one important idea: you don't have to believe every thought your anxious brain gives you. This isn't about positive thinking. It's about creating space between "I had a thought" and "this thought must be true." Jessica explains how anxiety turns observations into conclusions, why it fills in missing information with the most dramatic story, and why "possible" doesn't mean "probable." She also takes on the question clients ask all the time: "But what if my anxious thought is right?" The answer is to shift from needing confidence in the outcome to building confidence in yourself. In this episode: How we go from an observation ("my boss wants to talk") to a conclusion ("I'm in trouble") almost instantlyWhy anxiety hates an unfinished story and fills in the blanksPossible vs. probable, and why trying to prove a "what if" impossible is a losing argumentCognitive flexibility: what CBT is really about, and why it's realistic thinking, not positive thinkingConfidence in the outcome vs. confidence in yourselfWhy "I'll deal with it when it happens" can be an act of trustWhat to do when your body still feels anxious after you've used the skills (regulation doesn't mean calm)Why you don't need to win the argument with anxiety Try this week: When you notice yourself getting pulled into an anxious story, ask: What happened? (Just the observable facts.)What am I telling myself about what happened?What do I actually know?What else could be true?What would I do next if I didn't have to be completely certain? You don't have to answer perfectly. You're practicing creating space, and in that space you get some choice back. Coming in November: Family. Why being around family can make you feel 15 again, the roles we fall into (the people pleaser, the fixer, the peacekeeper, the caretaker, the approval seeker), boundaries, guilt, family expectations, and what happens when you start responding differently in a family system. Just in time for the holidays. Free resource: Download Jessica's free Personal Care Plan in the resource library at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com Connect: 📩 Join the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Clinical work: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw 🎵 TikTok: @jessicacolarcolcsw anxiety, anxious thoughts, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, cognitive flexibility, cognitive distortions, catastrophizing, what if thinking, possible vs probable, intolerance of uncertainty, tolerance of uncertainty, anxiety loop, reassurance seeking, overthinking, rumination, realistic thinking vs positive thinking, thoughts are not facts, observation vs interpretation, nervous system regulation, regulation doesn't mean calm, self-trust, resilience, anxiety therapist, LCSW, mental health podcast, healing podcast, Healing Is My Hobby, Jessica Colarco LCSW, family triggers, holiday stress, people pleasing, boundaries

The Anxiety Loop: Why the Things That Calm You Down Can Keep You Stuck Why does the anxiety keep coming back, even after you've checked, Googled, asked for reassurance, or prepared for every possible outcome? This week on Healing Is My Hobby, Jessica Colarco, LCSW, continues the October anxiety series by breaking down the anxiety loop: a cycle she sees constantly in her therapy practice. Using everyday examples like an unanswered text, a strange body sensation, and the urge to triple-check an email, Jessica explains how anxiety moves from trigger to prediction to discomfort to relief, and why that relief can quietly teach your brain that you couldn't have handled the uncertainty on your own. You'll learn what CBT calls safety behaviors, including the less obvious ones like overthinking, overpreparing, procrastinating, and seeking reassurance. You'll also learn how high-functioning anxiety can look a lot like competence from the outside. Most importantly, you'll learn a gentle, non-perfectionistic way to start loosening the loop by building tolerance for uncertainty one small choice at a time, without ripping away every coping strategy you have. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The five steps of the anxiety loop and why short-term relief keeps it goingWhat safety behaviors are, from obvious avoidance to sneaky ones like Googling, rehearsing, and reviewing past decisionsHow thinking itself can become a safety behavior, and the difference between problem-solving and searching for certaintyWhy reassurance has a short shelf life when anxiety is driving the conversationHow anxiety can look like productivity, preparedness, and being "the dependable one"How procrastination and avoidance teach your brain that avoidance equals reliefThe key question: "What is this teaching my brain?"Small ways to build uncertainty tolerance, like waiting 10 minutes before checking or rereading an email one fewer timeWhy you don't have to feel safe before you act, and how that differs from forcing yourself This Week's Practice: Catch just one anxiety loop. Write down what happened, what you predicted, what you felt, what you did to get relief, and whether it helped temporarily. Then ask: what did that response teach my brain? No judgment. You're just gathering information. Reflection Question: When I feel the urge to check, ask, Google, avoid, or overthink, what am I hoping it will give me: information, connection, preparation, or certainty? Key Takeaway: Relief and safety aren't always the same thing. Sometimes the thing that gives you immediate relief is also teaching anxiety that you couldn't have handled the discomfort without it, and you can learn something different. Coming Up Next Week: We close out the October anxiety series with thoughts versus facts. Jessica covers predictions versus possibilities, and how to challenge an anxious thought without forcing positive thinking. Free Resource: Download the free Your Personal Care Plan in Jessica's resource library at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com Connect: 📩 Sign up for the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Learn more about Jessica's clinical practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw 🎵 TikTok: @jessicacolarcolcsw anxiety loop, anxiety cycle, safety behaviors, CBT for anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy, reassurance seeking, intolerance of uncertainty, overthinking, rumination, health anxiety, Googling symptoms, relationship anxiety, high-functioning anxiety, perfectionism, procrastination and anxiety, avoidance, overpreparing, anxiety and productivity, checking behaviors, how to stop overthinking, uncertainty tolerance, anxious thoughts, anxiety relief, breaking the anxiety cycle, nervous system, mental health podcast, therapist podcast, Jessica Colarco LCSW, Healing Is My Hobby, October anxiety series

Your Anxiety Is Trying to Protect You Healing Is My Hobby | October 12, 2026 Last week we asked, is this a problem, or is this a prediction? This week we go deeper into why anxiety shows up the way it does. Underneath the overthinking, checking, avoiding, rehearsing, and 3 a.m. wake-up calls, anxiety usually has one message: something might go wrong, and I want to make sure you're prepared. In this episode, Jessica Colarco, LCSW, explains how your brain's alarm system works, why it can become oversensitive, and why anxiety can be protective without being accurate. You'll learn how avoidance, reassurance-seeking, and overthinking bring short-term relief while teaching your brain that the danger was real, and how to start relating to anxiety differently without fighting it. In this episode: Why your brain is designed to look for danger, and what happens when the smoke detector goes off every time you make toastWhy feeling unsafe and being unsafe aren't always the same thingHow past experiences teach your brain what to watch for, and why it sometimes works from old informationAnxiety can be protective without being accurateHow avoidance, reassurance, and overthinking can keep anxiety goingWhy trying to shut anxiety down often leads to anxiety about anxietyWhy the goal isn't to never feel anxious Your practice this week: When anxiety shows up, ask yourself: What is my anxiety trying to protect me from?Is there an actual threat or problem happening right now?What would I do next if I didn't need absolute certainty first? Coming up next week: The anxiety loop: why the things that make anxiety feel better right now can keep it going. Free resource: Download Your Personal Care Plan, a simple place to start noticing what you need and what actually supports you, from the resource library at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com. Connect: 📩 Join the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Work with Jessica: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw 🎵 TikTok: @jessicacolarcolcsw anxiety, anxiety is trying to protect you, why do I have anxiety, anxiety and the nervous system, overactive alarm system, smoke detector analogy anxiety, feelings aren't facts, anxiety vs danger, avoidance and anxiety, reassurance seeking, overthinking, rumination, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety about anxiety, 3am anxiety, why does my body feel anxious when I know I'm okay, anxiety loop, how to stop overthinking, living with uncertainty, nervous system regulation, CBT for anxiety, ERP, exposure and response prevention, anxiety therapist, Henderson NV therapist, Las Vegas anxiety therapist, Jessica Colarco LCSW, Healing Is My Hobby podcast, mental health podcast, therapist podcast This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or professional mental health care.

When Stress Becomes Anxiety: Is It a Problem or a Prediction? All through September, we talked about your nervous system: stress signals, regulation, and the idea that calm isn't the only healthy state. This month, we're taking that conversation one step further into anxiety. Anxiety doesn't always look like a panic attack. Sometimes it looks like overthinking, irritability, procrastinating, or being incredibly productive. Sometimes it's asking "are you sure you're not mad at me?" for the third time, Googling the same question for the fifth time, or lying awake at 2 a.m. holding a very serious meeting with yourself about a problem that doesn't exist yet. In this episode, Jessica breaks down the difference between stress and anxiety, why anxiety has such a hard time with uncertainty, and one simple question that can help you create a little space between you and the worry. In this episode, we talk about: How stress and anxiety overlap, and how they're differentWhy stress usually responds to what is happening, while anxiety responds to what might happenAnxiety's difficult relationship with uncertainty, and how it tries to create certainty through overthinking, preparing, Googling, and reassurance-seekingWhy planning and worrying are not the same thingThe key question: Am I dealing with a problem, or a prediction?Why your body reacts to an anxious story as if it's happening right nowWhy the goal isn't to stop worrying, but to start recognizing what's happening when anxiety shows up Try this this week: When you notice yourself getting caught in a worry, pause and ask: What is actually happening right now?What am I predicting might happen?Is there an action I need to take, or am I trying to create certainty? You don't have to make the anxiety disappear. Just notice. Coming up next week: Your anxiety is actually trying to protect you, even when it's making your life harder. Understanding why your brain learned to do this can help you stop fighting anxiety and start responding differently. Free resource: Feeling disconnected from yourself, or so used to pushing through that you're not sure what you need anymore? Download Your Personal Care Plan, a free guide to help you slow down, check in, and think intentionally about what actually supports you. Find it in the resource library at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com. Want to go deeper? Explore courses and other offerings at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com. Connect: 📩 Join the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Clinical practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw 🎵 TikTok: @jessicacolarcolcsw tress vs anxiety, what is anxiety, anxiety vs stress difference, when stress becomes anxiety, anxiety and uncertainty, intolerance of uncertainty, overthinking, what if thinking, worry vs planning, anxious predictions, catastrophizing, reassurance seeking, anxiety at night, can't sleep from anxiety, 2am anxiety, nervous system and anxiety, anxiety symptoms, high functioning anxiety, anxiety and procrastination, anxiety therapist, CBT for anxiety, problem vs prediction, anxious thoughts are not facts, managing worry, anxiety podcast, mental health podcast, healing podcast, nervous system regulation, Jessica Colarco LCSW, Healing Is My Hobby

Not Everything That Feels Urgent Is Urgent: Telling the Difference Between Real Urgency and Anxiety An uncomfortable email arrives and you feel like you have to answer right now. A text goes unanswered and you need to know why. You remember a small task and it has to be done before you can sit down. Urgency can feel like important information, but sometimes it's anxiety in a very convincing disguise. In this final episode of our September series on our relationship with doing, I bring the month together by looking at what sits underneath so many of these patterns: urgency. We explore how thoughts and physical sensations reinforce each other, why our brains get so good at "handling it" to find relief, and how to tell the difference between actual urgency (about the situation) and emotional urgency (about the discomfort the situation creates inside us). This isn't about ignoring what matters or swapping urgency for avoidance. It's about creating enough space between the feeling and the action to realize you have a choice. In this episode, we explore: The difference between actual urgency and emotional urgency, with real-life examples"Open loops" and why unresolved things feel so hard to leave aloneHow we create activity when we can't create certaintyA favorite CBT question: Am I responding to a fact or a prediction?False deadlines, or "discomfort deadlines," and the questions that expose them (According to whom? By when? What happens if I wait?)Urgency vs. avoidance vs. regulation, and what flexible responding looks likeWhy so much healing is learning we can survive an unfinished moment This week's Healing Experiment: Identify one false deadline. When your brain says "do it now," ask what the actual deadline is. If there isn't one, create a small intentional delay (10 minutes, 30 minutes, or until tomorrow) and notice what thoughts, body sensations, and fears show up. Then ask: Is this urgency giving me useful information, or is it asking me to make discomfort disappear? This week's takeaway: Not everything that feels urgent is urgent. The feeling is real, but it doesn't have to be an instruction. Sometimes the most regulating thing you can do isn't fixing the problem. It's discovering that you can wait. Resources mentioned: Visit my Healing Library at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com to find: Your Personal Care Plan (free worksheet): a way to care for yourself that takes your actual capacity into accountNervous System Regulation Plan: a self-guided resource for understanding your nervous system more deeplyWhy You Can't Stop: my 7-module course for going deeper into the patterns we explored all September Catch up on the September series: Why You Can't Stop • Why Rest Doesn't Always Feel Restful • You Don't Have to Earn Rest • Nervous System Regulation Isn't the Same as Being Calm Connect: 📩 Sign up for the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Clinical website: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw 🎵 TikTok: @jessicacolarcolcsw urgency and anxiety, emotional urgency, false deadlines, discomfort deadline, anxiety disguised as urgency, fact vs prediction, CBT for anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy, intolerance of uncertainty, tolerating uncertainty, open loops, reassurance seeking, checking behaviors, overthinking, high-functioning anxiety, productivity anxiety, compulsive productivity, people pleasing, nervous system regulation, nervous system activation, can't relax, urgency vs avoidance, anxious texting, waiting for a text back, emotional regulation, mindful pause, therapist podcast, mental health podcast, Healing Is My Hobby, Jessica Colarco LCSW

Somewhere along the way, calm became the gold standard for mental health. But what if we've been measuring regulation by the wrong thing? In this episode, Jessica explains why nervous system regulation isn't about staying calm. It's about recognizing what's happening inside you, understanding what you need, and responding without treating every uncomfortable feeling like an emergency. You'll learn how to catch your earliest signals, why relief and regulation aren't always the same thing, and how to build a regulation menu that fits you. In this episode Why "how do I calm down?" may be the wrong questionWhy calm is one healthy nervous system state, not the only one, and why flexibility is the real goalHow your nervous system gives you information through body sensations, thoughts, and behaviorsWhy your early signals (a 3 out of 10) give you more choices than your loudest ones (a 9)How activation shows up differently for different people: busyness, irritability, control, reassurance seeking, and checkingWhat shutdown and depletion can look like, and why a strategy for overstimulation may not help when you're disconnectedHow coping skills can become another way of demanding the feeling disappearThe difference between relief and regulationWhy a regulation menu works better than one perfect coping skillWhy regulation is an experiment, not a performance Key takeaways You don't have to be calm to be regulated. You can be anxious, irritated, or sad and still make an intentional choice about what happens next.Instead of asking "Did this make me feel better?", try asking "Did this help me respond differently?"The goal isn't to memorize 30 coping strategies. It's to know yourself well enough to have a few realistic options when your system starts giving you information.Tracking your early signals is about learning your patterns, not monitoring yourself all day for signs that something is wrong. This week's healing experiment Catch one early signal. Choose something small, not your biggest symptom or the moment you're already at a 10.Pause and name it: "My system is starting to get activated," or "I'm starting to shut down."Ask yourself, "What might I need right now?"Try one thing.Afterward, don't ask whether the feeling went away. Ask, "Did this give me a little more choice in how I responded?" Resources mentioned My Nervous System Regulation Plan: a fillable, self-guided workbook that helps you identify your regulated baseline, recognize your signs of activation and shutdown, build your own regulation menu, and track what actually helps. Find it in the course and resource library at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com. Why You Can't Stop: Jessica's 7-module, self-paced course on the patterns underneath constant doing. Find it at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com. Connect 📩 Sign up for the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Clinical practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw nervous system regulation, regulation vs calm, how to calm down, coping skills, regulation menu, nervous system regulation plan, early warning signs of anxiety, signs of nervous system activation, shutdown and depletion, dysregulation, relief vs regulation, anxiety coping skills, grounding techniques, overstimulation, emotional regulation, healing experiment, nervous system flexibility, reassurance seeking, checking behaviors, irritability and anxiety, mind-body awareness, CBT therapist, licensed clinical social worker, Healing Is My Hobby podcast, Jessica Colarco LCSW, Why You Can't Stop course

Why do so many of us treat rest like a reward instead of a basic need? In this episode, Jessica unpacks the hidden rule a lot of high achievers live by: I can rest once everything is done. The problem is, the finish line keeps moving — there's always one more email, one more task, one more thing to get ahead on. Jessica explores where this belief comes from, why it hits especially hard for people who are "good at" being productive, and what it actually takes to start relating to rest as a resource instead of a prize. What We CoverWhy "I'll rest when I'm done" sets up a finish line that never arrivesHow everyday messages (work before play, don't be lazy, hard work pays off) quietly turn into rigid rules about earning restWhy high-achieving people are especially good at finding the next task — and why that keeps rest out of reachThe difference between rest as a reward and rest as a resourceHow we moralize productivity vs. rest (productive = responsible, resting = lazy) — and why that framing isn't trueNoticing the double standard: the compassion we extend to others' need for rest vs. the standard we hold ourselves toWhat guilt during rest is actually telling us (and what it isn't)A personal example from Jessica about catching herself moving the goalpost on restHow productivity can get tangled up with identity ("I'm the one who handles everything") and why that's worth examiningThis week's healing experiment: resting before you've earned it This Week's Healing ExperimentChoose a small moment when something could still be done — and stop anyway. Ten minutes. Leave something undone on purpose. Notice what comes up (the thought, the guilt, the urge to get back to it) without rushing to fix it. Ask yourself: what rule do I think I'm breaking right now? Mentioned in This EpisodeWhy You Can't Stop — Jessica's 7-module self-paced course on nervous system regulation, anxiety, and the beliefs underneath productivity and control. Early bird pricing ($197) available through September 14th. 🔗 heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.comNervous System Regulation Plan — a free fillable workbook to help identify your regulated baseline, early signs of activation/shutdown, coping patterns, and go-to strategies. Available in the resource library. 🔗 heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com Connect📩 Newsletter: healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Clinical practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw Healing Is My Hobby — because healing doesn't have to be your whole life. It can just be something you keep practicing along the way.

You finally sit down to rest… and your brain starts running through your to-do list. Sound familiar? In this episode, Jessica breaks down why stopping and regulating are not the same thing — and why your body can stop moving long before your nervous system actually settles. What We CoverWhy rest isn't defined by physical stillness — you can be lying in bed while your nervous system is still fully activatedThe real goal of nervous system work: not constant calm, but flexibilityWhy the "go" transition is easy and the "stop" transition is hard — and how to build a bridge between the two"Productive rest": why we sneak achievement into relaxation (podcasts on walks, productivity guilt while reading, closet reorganizing as emotional avoidance)A personal story about Jessica cleaning out her daughter's closet the weekend before she left for collegeHow to ask "what does my system need right now?" instead of reaching for generic coping skillsWhy regulation isn't about making a feeling disappear — it's about responding differently while you're still feeling it This Week's Healing ExperimentPick one transition in your day that tends to feel abrupt (work → home, dinner → bedtime, etc.). Give yourself a 5-minute bridge before diving into the next thing, and ask: What state am I in? What does my system actually need? Mentioned in This Episode🎓 Why You Can't Stop — Jessica's 7-module self-paced course for people who are great at doing, but struggle to stop. Early Bird pricing: $197 (September 14th), moving to $247 after. 📓 My Nervous System Regulation Plan — a workbook to help you identify your own signs of activation and shutdown, and build a personalized regulation menu. Available here. Connect📩 Newsletter: healingismyhobby.com 📷 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Clinical practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw Coming up next week: "You Don't Need to Earn Your Rest" — digging into the belief that you have to do enough before you're allowed to stop. nervous system regulation, why can't I relax, rest vs regulation, nervous system dysregulation, how to actually rest, productive rest, productivity as coping mechanism, nervous system flexibility, fight or flight to rest and digest, transitions and nervous system, somatic regulation, CBT therapist podcast, anxiety and productivity, empty nest anxiety, avoidance through busyness, coping skills that actually work, grounding techniques, nervous system activation and shutdown, healing is my hobby podcast, Jessica Colarco LCSW, why you can't stop course, nervous system regulation plan workbook, therapist tips for burnout, high achievers and rest, mental load and rest, self-care that isn't productive, how to unwind after work, chronic busyness anxiety

What happens when you finally have nothing to do? For some of us, the answer isn't relief. It's discomfort. In the Season 2 premiere of Healing Is My Hobby, Jessica explores what happens when productivity becomes more than a habit and starts functioning as a way to manage anxiety, uncertainty, and nervous system activation. In this episode, you'll explore: Why productivity itself isn't the problemHow your brain learns from the relief you get after doing, fixing, checking, or controllingWhy anxiety can sometimes look incredibly productiveThe difference between “this needs to be done” and “I need to do this so I can feel okay”How identity and worth can become connected to productivityA simple experiment for creating more space between discomfort and action Ready to Go Deeper?Why You Can't Stop is Jessica's seven-module, self-paced course for people who are really good at doing—but have a much harder time stopping. LAUNCH WEEK: $197 EARLY-BIRD PRICING After the first week, enrollment is $247. A payment plan is also available. Explore Why You Can't Stop, My Nervous System Regulation Plan, and Jessica's other courses and resources at: 👉 Available at heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com Your Healing ExperimentThe next time you feel an urgent need to do, pause and ask: Does this actually need action right now—or am I looking for relief? Healing Is My Hobby and its accompanying courses and resources are educational and are not therapy or a substitute for individualized mental health treatment. Nervous System Regulation Plan — not ready for the full course yet? This fillable workbook helps you identify what regulation feels like for you, your earliest signs of activation and shutdown, your go-to coping behaviors, and the strategies that actually work for your nervous system. 👉 heal.jessicacolarcolcsw.com Coming Up Next WeekYou've finished work, sat on the couch, even taken the day off — and somehow you still can't relax. Next week: why rest doesn't feel restful, and what happens when your body stops but your nervous system doesn't. Connect📩 Newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 @healingismyhobby on Instagram ▶️ YouTube at youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 @jessicacolarcolcsw productivity anxiety, nervous system regulation, why you can't stop, anxiety and productivity, activation vs stillness, coping mechanisms, high achiever anxiety, rest and guilt, nervous system dysregulation, trauma-informed therapy, CBT, self-worth and achievement, people pleasing, perfectionism, chronic busyness, burnout, mental health podcast, therapist podcast, Healing Is My Hobby, Jessica Colarco LCSW, Why You Can't Stop course

This week, Jessica closes out the summer Healing Moments series with an invitation: what if you let yourself be uncomfortable — on purpose? Not unsafe. Not overwhelmed. Just uncomfortable. For anyone who identifies as an overachiever, a fixer, or a chronic doer, stillness itself can feel unbearable — and productivity often becomes a quiet way of avoiding harder feelings like uncertainty, boredom, or loneliness. This week's practice: Find 5–10 minutes and intentionally don't fill them. No phone, no podcast, no folding laundry, no to-do list. Just sit — with your coffee, on the porch, wherever. Notice what comes up: the urge to reach for your phone, a sudden memory of everything you "should" be doing, restlessness, even guilt. Instead of chasing the discomfort away, try sitting with the thought: I can be uncomfortable and still be okay. Healing isn't always about finding the next thing to do. Sometimes it's discovering that you can stay with yourself when you're doing nothing at all. Season 2 of Healing Is My Hobby starts later this week. 🎉 Connect📩 Sign up for the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 Follow on Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 Learn about Jessica's clinical practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 Follow Jessica's clinical page: @jessicacolarcolcsw

This is the last journal prompt of the summer — and next week's Healing Moment is the final one before Season 2 launches. So this week's prompt is about making space for what's next by naming what you're ready to release. Today's prompt: What do I want to leave behind before September? Some ways to go deeper: What thought pattern have you been dragging around all summer (or longer) that you're genuinely tired of?Is there a habit or coping behavior that's stopped serving you?Is there a relationship dynamic, resentment, or expectation you're willing to loosen your grip on?Is there a smaller, more fearful, more apologetic version of yourself you're ready to stop leading with? You don't have to be fully ready to release it — you just have to be willing to name it. Write it down, then write this: I am willing to leave this behind. I don't need it where I'm going. A first look at Why You Can't Stop 🌱 Jessica shared a first glimpse behind the scenes at Why You Can't Stop — a 7-module, self-paced course for anyone whose nervous system has been stuck in go mode for so long that stopping feels unsafe. It's designed to help you understand the pattern, not just white-knuckle through it. Launching in September, with more details coming soon. Season 2 of Healing Is My Hobby begins next Monday. 🎉 Connect📩 Newsletter at healingismyhobby.com 📷 @healingismyhobby on Instagram ▶️ YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@healingismyhobby 🩺 jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📷 @jessicacolarcolcsw on Instagram

So many of us are waiting for the moment we finally "arrive." When we lose the weight. When the kids need us less. When work calms down. When we're more organized, more confident, more together... then we'll be happy. Then we'll rest. But what if there isn't an arrival point? In this trailer, Jessica and Kelly open up Season 6 with a question that changes everything: what if this is it? Not in a depressing way, but in a freeing one. Maybe your life isn't something you have to perfect before you're allowed to enjoy it. Maybe you can be proud of who you are and still want to grow. Maybe rest doesn't have to be earned, and starting something before you feel ready is allowed too. This season isn't about becoming the perfect version of yourself. It's about becoming more you. Season 6 of Chasing Brighter, Becoming Not Arriving, begins September 3rd. In This Episode: Why the idea of "arrival" keeps so many of us stuckLetting go of the myth that you have to be finished before you can be happyGrowth that's real, rest that's earned, and a life that's actually yoursWhat to expect from Season 6 Season 6 begins September 3rd. Subscribe now so you don't miss it. Find us: Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram/TikTok: @chasingbrighter Keywords: chasing brighter, becoming not arriving, season 6, personal growth, self acceptance, letting go of perfectionism, rest without guilt, women's podcast, sisters podcast, real over perfect, growth mindset, self worth, starting before you're ready, permission to rest, life transitions

As summer winds down and the back-to-school transition sets in, that low hum of anticipation and dread can make it hard to stay present. In this Healing Moment, Jessica walks you through the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, one of the most effective tools for anxiety, dissociation, and overwhelm. Using your five senses, this practice pulls you out of the future-focused spiral of anxiety and back into your body, back into the only moment you're actually in. Jessica also shares a preview of her upcoming course, Why You Can't Stop, launching this September, including the concept of "productivity as safety" and why your nervous system doesn't track your to-do list, it tracks danger and safety. What You'll LearnWhy the 5-4-3-2-1 technique works: anxiety lives in the future, and grounding pulls you back into the presentA full guided walkthrough of the exercise, from five things you can see down to one thing you can tasteHow to use this tool during seasonal transitions, high-anxiety mornings, or any time your mind won't stopA first look at "productivity as safety," one of the seven core concepts in Jessica's upcoming course Timestamps00:05 — Welcome back and the back-to-school anxiety shift00:40 — Introducing the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique01:10 — Course preview: Why You Can't Stop and "productivity as safety"02:00 — Guided practice begins: 5 things you can see02:20 — 4 things you can feel02:35 — 3 things you can hear02:50 — 2 things you can smell03:05 — 1 thing you can taste03:20 — Why grounding works: anxiety lives in the future03:45 — Closing and where to connect Keywords & Search Terms5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, grounding exercises for anxiety, anxiety and dissociation, overwhelm coping tools, back to school anxiety, seasonal transition anxiety, present moment awareness, mindfulness for anxiety, five senses grounding, nervous system regulation, productivity as safety, Why You Can't Stop course, anxious striving, trauma informed therapy, CBT grounding tools, somatic anxiety relief, healing is my hobby podcast, Jessica Colarco LCSW, therapy tools for everyday life, self-soothing techniques Connect With Jessica🌐 Website: healingismyhobby.com📸 Instagram: @healingismyhobby▶️ YouTube: @healingismyhobby🩺 Clinical Practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com📸 Clinical Instagram: @jessicacolarcolcsw Keep healing. You're worth it.

This week's Healing Moment is an action step Jessica uses regularly in her clinical work: writing an unsent letter. It's a simple, powerful practice for releasing what you've been holding onto — honestly, and without ever having to send it. What You'll LearnAn unsent letter is written with full honesty, knowing it will never reach its recipient. It's not about the person on the other end — it's about you, and what needs somewhere to go. Jessica offers a few starting points for who or what you might write to: A person who hurt you, disappointed you, or left something unresolved between youA version of yourself — younger, older, or one you had to leave behindA situation that didn't go the way you needed it toA loss you've never fully namedSomething you're ready to let go of, but haven't found the words for yet The instructions are simple: start with "Dear ___," and let it come. Don't edit. Don't make it fair or balanced. When you're done, the letter is yours to burn, delete, fold away, or keep — there's no wrong answer. The healing is in the writing itself. Jessica also touches on why this practice works: emotions like grief, anger, love, longing, and guilt need expression to move. Left locked inside, they don't disappear — they go underground and show up sideways. The unsent letter gives them somewhere to go. A Note From JessicaJessica leaves listeners with a reflection question to sit with this week: When was the last time you truly relaxed and let go? She also shares a small teaser about the bigger project she's been working on behind the scenes. Connect With Jessica📩 Sign up for the newsletter: healingismyhobby.com 📸 Instagram: @healingismyhobby ▶️ YouTube: Healing Is My Hobby 🩺 Clinical practice: jessicacolarcolcsw.com 📸 Practice Instagram: @jessicacolarco unsent letter, unsent letter therapy, letter writing exercise, therapeutic writing, expressive writing, emotional release, letting go exercise, processing grief, processing anger, unresolved emotions, journaling for healing, writing to heal, closure without sending, clinical writing exercise, healing moments, healing is my hobby, Jessica Colarco LCSW, mental health podcast, therapy podcast, self-care practice, emotional regulation, letting go of the past, therapeutic journaling prompt, grief and anger release, how to write an unsent letter