Since March of last year when this pandemic started, we have seen a significant increase in people reporting anxiety related to the pandemic. As we move closer to what our previous normal looked like, we are seeing a new wave of anxiety, even in those who are looking forward to getting back out

The cost of peace is expensive. 

Seems like every time we think we might be able to experience a little peace, the world tries to prove us wrong. This week's episode responds to a question from listener who inquires about how to protect their peace when everything is so chaotic around them. 

This week's episode discusses a question submitted by a listener who has some increase in anxiety after having COVID that is interfering with functioning. Listen as Dr. Nicole discusses COVID and anxiety.

What if I told that everyone with anxiety doesn't have an anxious outward appearance?

Today's episode addresses a listener question about an employee who reports anxiety but doesn't appear anxious and who may come across as lazy. We will talk about the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, how it can affect work performance and what can be done about it

So many of the Black professionals I work with at some point or another bring up the struggles of raising their children in environments where they are one of the few Black kids or the only Black kid. This is very different than how most of them were raised, leading to lots of questions and discussion. For this episode, I sat down with Jessica Vickers, a therapist who has the personal experience of growing up as the only Black girl in a predominantly white community and who helps clients navigate that experience as well.

One of the biggest self care acts you can do is master saying no but this is easier said that done. Why is it so hard to say no? What does saying no signify to you? How does saying no affect your yes moments? Join Dr. Nicole as she discusses the answer to all of these questions and more.

Seems like you can hardly turn on the news or look at social media without some mention of the vaccine. The amount of information out there is overwhelming and some are really struggling with anxiety about whether they will receive the vaccine or not. In this episode, we talk about how to work through that anxiety to make an informed decision that is fact based instead of one that is fear and anxiety based.

In the follow up to the previous episode, Dr. Nicole discusses three other causes of stress during the holidays - fatigue, finances, and fantasy. 

The holidays are known to be a stressful time for a lot of people and this year may prove to be even more stressful than other times due to the effects of the pandemic. In my experience, the five areas that lead to increased anxiety and stress this time of year include finances, food/alcohol, family, fatigue and the fantasy expectations. In this episode, Dr. Nicole will talk about the effects of family stress and food related stress, how this year may be different, and some pointers on how to deal with these stressors.

I am getting a lot of requests for appointments during election week from people who feel they will need extra support during that time. In this episode I give some tips on dealing with election stress to try to decrease the emotional burden that you may feel during this time.