Seeing, monitoring, and judging videos of yourself all day is unnatural and psychologically taxing. Turn off self-view for all of your Zoom calls. It feels strange at first but you’ll be amazed by how much less exhausted you feel at the end of each day.

Some people feel but need help to understand. Some people understand but need help to feel. Therapy offers help with both.

"Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.” - Maya Angelou Today is a fantastic day to be a little less hard on yourself.

The assumptions you make about other people’s intentions will tell you everything about how you’ve been treated in your most vulnerable moments.

Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go. - Jamie Anderson

my therapist says I cant make the monsters disappear no matter how much I pay her all she can do is bring them into the room so I can get to know them, so I can learn their names, so I can see clearly their toothless mouths, their empty hands, their pleading eyes. josé olivarez

I don’t feel rested, I need a break... *takes a break but spends the whole time thinking about how I don’t deserve a break & how I’ll have more work later because I took this stupid break arggghhh- break over. I don’t feel rested... 🤔 (don’t let guilt sabotage your time off)

We store our issues in our tissues ✨ Invest in things like yoga, body work, and massage alongside therapy.

The work I do has made me uniquely privy to the fact that everyone is insecure (especially those who say they aren’t) and everyone is making shit up as they go (especially those who seem to have it all figured out). Give yourself a break from comparing and keep moving forward 💕

Bathroom stall wisdom 🪦

A thing does not have to last forever for it to be worth having or doing.

Anxiety: LOOK OUT!!! Me: OH SHIT FOR WHAT?! Anxiety: hard to say

When patients share a story they’ve told me before, I don’t stop them and say that I’ve already heard that one. Instead I assume that I didn’t hear what they needed me to the last time, and try to listen more deeply and with new years. Try this with parents / friends / kids ✨

Our culture has such an obsession with “learning to be happy” that when we experience any kind of sadness, anger, or overwhelm, we assume something is wrong with us. Life includes suffering. It always will. Let’s not pathologize normal pain.

Psst... any relationship that can be ruined by a thoughtful conversation about how you feel and what you need doesn’t have long-term stability or potential anyway.

No one’s thinking about that weird thing you said. They’re busy worrying about that weird thing they said that you didn’t notice because you were in your head about that weird thing you said.

The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so free that your very existence is an act of rebellion. - Albert Camus

Do not ask others to be more resilient if what you mean is to suffer more quietly.

It will never work to hate yourself into a better version of who you are. Believe me, I've watched a lot of people try. The more loved and accepted you feel exactly as you are, the better you will be at making positive change. Give it a try.

How to Hit the Gym for your Mental Health Episode #376 of Something For Everybody is live w/ Dr. Emily Anhalt Topics Covered: - Technology in Mental Health - Misconceptions About Therapy - Emotional Fitness Enjoy! 🔗 everybodyspod.com/anhalt/

In any given relationship, the person who cares less has power. The answer to this isn’t to care less, it’s to trust that when it comes to relationships, vulnerability will get you to beautiful places that power never could.

Did you know there's a treasure chest of hidden wisdom in the things you try hardest to hide? 🏴‍☠️ In my latest newsletter, I explore the provocative concept of Existential Kink, and share a simple practice for making peace with a taboo part of yourself: dremilyanhalt.substack.com

I'm Dr. Emily, and I want to help you get emotionally ripped 💪❤️ You're thoughtful about how your treat your body - why not be as dedicated to strengthening your mind? Excited to connect with others who get it? Introduce yourself - we all need spotters & cheerleaders in the emotional gym ⬇️

I'm not sure who needs to hear this, but it's completely ok (wise, even) to rest today instead of catching up on work.

Build your life more around what brings you purpose, and less around what soothes your fear.

Flex has been out in the world for just over a week and I am OVERWHELMED with gratitude for this community. If you're up for writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads, it would absolutely make my day 🥹🥰 Review on Amazon: rb.gy/tde7ae Review on Goodreads: rb.gy/gzbolq

🚀 IT’S HERE! Flex Your Feelings is officially out in the world today! I'm so proud of this book, and even more excited to see how it helps people flex their feelings in real life. Grab a copy today (dremilyanhalt.com/book) and get ready to break an emotional sweat 💪❤️

The simplest and most difficult mental health workout: Instead of turning away from your pain, turn toward it. That’s it. Try a few light reps today 💪❤️

Poem by Nayyirah Waheed ❤️

Are you a procrastinator like I am? Have you been fighting it your whole life? Maybe your brain just needs the anxiety of an impending deadline to kick into gear 🧠⚡️ You ever consider that, society??? Check out this video for thoughts on how to make procrastination work for you.

Friends, Colleagues, Rockstars, My book launch party for Flex Your Feelings is Tues, May 13th in SF 💪❤️ I’ve held a few spots for journalists who are interested in writing about emotional fitness and community members who want to be part of the launch 🚀 Shoot me a DM if you’re interested!

ADHD is me staying calm in stressful situations and stressed in calm situations ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Big news! The Times just reviewed my book, Flex Your Feelings 💪❤️ I'm also roasted for my American-ness (really can't blame them there), and told that Zoom gives me a disconcerting Disney-like quality 😅 How emotionally fit are you? Take the quiz and find out ⬇️ shorturl.at/doMiY

Where's my ADHD crew at? 🙋🏻‍♀️ I return to Faster Than Normal with @petershankman.bsky.social to chat about flushing my meds down the toilet as a kid, reframing ADHD, social media's role, Gen Z, "Dr. TikToks," and AI. Short-and-sweet episode here: 🐿 Apple: shorturl.at/r2zmO Spotify: shorturl.at/mIvcE

This is what I think about when people say that AI will replace therapists. Maybe it will, but I’d invite you to wonder if manufactured compassion is what you’re really looking for. I’m just out here believing in the power and irreplaceability of humanity 💗

Make 3 mistakes today and call it research.

Quick emotional pushup to help you level up your life 💪❤️ Grab a paper and pen (or laptop) and journal for 3 minutes with no goal in mind. Free-writing is an amazing way to discover thoughts that are hiding in corners of your mind. Give it a try and let me know what you think ✍️

My book officially hits shelves 4 weeks from today!! 🎉 To celebrate, I’m sharing my first-ever Day In The Life video 🎥 Come with me for Day 1 of recording the audiobook for Flex Your Feelings 🎙 and get a peek into my daily routine 🍵🏃‍♀️🍳 #DayIntheLife #DITL

Does your dynamic with your boss remind you of your dynamic with your parents? Do your struggles with colleagues remind you of the struggles you had with your siblings? It's no coincidence that "familiar" means "like family" 😏

You can understand and appreciate that your parents did the best they could with what they had and still be angry and disappointed that they couldn't do better.

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. - Isak Dinesen

My book, Flex Your Feelings, comes out 5 weeks from today! Wondering how emotionally fit you are? Head to my Instagram stories to take a self-assessment quiz, and see how other people rate themselves on the 7 traits 💪❤️ www.instagram.com/dremilyanhalt/

Don’t underestimate the power of (even light) exercise as an antidepressant and anxiety-management tool 🏃🏽‍♀️ I know the activation energy required can be tough to find (especially when you’re feeling depressed or anxious) but if you can will yourself into it, it will pay off big-time ✨

Not all pain comes to harm you.

When it comes to the age-old debate of nature vs. nurture, I believe that nature loads the gun, but nurture pulls the trigger.

Is it the coffee or is Monday just hittin' a little extra hard.... ☕️👀

Well well well, if it isn’t that pattern my therapist pointed out 3 months ago that I said I was totally not gonna repeat again

The assumptions you make about other people’s intentions will tell you everything about how you’ve been treated in your most vulnerable moments.

If you only reach out to someone in your network when you need something… it’s not a relationship. It’s a transaction. Strong connections aren’t built in moments of urgency - they grow over time through small, meaningful interactions. So don't forget to plant those seeds 🌱

It is a joy to be hidden, and disaster not to be found. - Donald Winnicott