Blog

You might notice it happens almost automatically. A message takes a little longer than usual to arrive, and your mind begins to fill in the gaps. “Have I said something wrong?”, “Are they losing interest?”, “Did I come across too much?” Before long, you’re replaying the last conversation, re-reading messages, and trying to work out what might have changed. Even when part of you recognises that nothing significant has actually happened, it can still feel difficult to let go of the thoughts. The uncertainty lingers, and with it, a sense of unease. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Many...

You might notice a pattern where you feel the need to check that everything is okay. Perhaps you ask if someone is upset, if they still care, or if the relationship is alright. When they reassure you, there’s often a sense of relief, but it doesn’t always last. Before long, the doubt returns, and with it, the urge to check again. The cycle of reassurance From a CBT perspective, this can become a repeating cycle. Something small changes—a tone, a delay, a brief interaction—and a thought appears: “Something isn’t right”. That thought creates anxiety. Asking for reassurance feels like the...

There’s a particular kind of loneliness that doesn’t look lonely at all. It shows up at crowded dinner tables, in busy living rooms, in the middle of celebrations that are supposed to feel warm and full. Around Easter, especially, there’s often an expectation of togetherness - family gatherings, shared meals, and meaningful connection. Yet, many people find themselves feeling alone in the very moments they’re “supposed” to feel most connected. From a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) perspective, this experience is both understandable and more common than we might think. CBT helps us explore the relationship between our thoughts, emotions, and...