Tara Amanna, Author at Anew Counseling Services

A young student sleeps on a school desk, surrounded by open books and study notes.

As late summer turns to fall, high school seniors and their families face an intense shift in pace. Between maintaining grades, balancing extracurricular responsibilities, and facing the college application process, it is completely natural for stress levels to spike. While motivation helps students hit deadlines, persistent worry can easily spiral into severe high school anxiety. Understanding how to manage this pressure is key to preserving your mental health while moving forward academically. Why the College […]

Young female therapist sitting on chair and discussing problem with patients during psychotherapy session in group

OCD, Uncategorized

The Reassurance Trap: Why Answering “Are You Sure?” Keeps OCD Alive

OCD, Uncategorized

If you struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder, you know how demanding the need for certainty can feel. It can almost feel like life support and needing it to breath. Whether asking family and friends for verbal confirmation, checking the that the stove is off one last time, or spending hours searching symptoms online to try to find out that you do not have something wrong, the urge to ask “Are you sure?” feels impossible to resist.

A person cleaning a wooden desk with a spray bottle and cloth, showcasing tidiness.

OCD

Beyond the Stereotypes: Understanding OCD Symptoms and the Internal Cycle

OCD

In conversations Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is frequently reduced to a quirky personality trait. We often hear people say, “I’m so OCD about my desk,” or see television characters who are simply obsessed with neatness, color-coding, or washing their hands. So we just assume that this person is just super neat or very organized. Many times we do not realize the struggle under their actions. And many times the person does not show any of their

A woman sitting indoors covering her face in frustration, depicting stress and mental health challenges.

Anxiety

The “What-If” Trap: How to Break the Cycle of Anticipatory Anxiety

Anxiety

Have you ever found yourself laying in bed at night, completely exhausted, yet your mind is running a million miles an hour rehearsing a conversation that hasn’t happened yet? Or maybe you have an upcoming presentation, a doctor’s appointment, or a social event, and you’ve already mapped out five different ways it could go terribly wrong, despite having any evidence that anything could go wrong at all. If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing

Anxiety, teens

Normal Teen Drama or Something Deeper? A Parent’s Guide to Teen Anxiety

Anxiety, teens

As a parent, watching your child navigate the teenage years can feel like trying to decode a completely foreign language. One day they are talking your ear off; the next, they are slamming their bedroom door, leaving you wondering what you did wrong. It’s easy to write off the sudden mood swings, the late-night tears, and the intense school stress as just “typical teenager stuff.” But lately, you might have a nagging feeling in your

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Anxiety, Breast Cancer

Holding Your Breath: Navigating the Invisible Weight of Breast Cancer and Anxiety

Anxiety, Breast Cancer

The day you receive a breast cancer diagnosis, the world doesn’t just slow down… It feels like it completely shatters. Suddenly, your calendar is replaced with doctor appointments, medical terms you never wanted to learn, and an underlying, heavy fog that follows you from room to room. While the medical team focuses entirely on treating your physical body, there is another battle happening quietly inside your mind. The emotional toll of this journey is massive,

A woman in therapy, engaged in discussion with a professional therapist.

OCD

The “Just Right” Trap: How OCD Can Make You Feel Like Something is Always Off

OCD

We live in a world that often praises perfection. We’re told that being “particular” is a strength and that having high standards is the key to success. But for many of my clients, the drive for things to be perfect isn’t a choice—it’s a relentless, exhausting requirement. It isn’t about being neat or tidy; it is a deep, internal ache that tells you something is “off” until it is corrected. This experience is often referred

A college student studying diligently at a desk with textbooks and notes.

teens

When “Doing Your Best” Feels Like It’s Never Enough

teens

As a parent or a student, you know the feeling all too well. It’s the heavy silence that hangs in the car after a test grade comes back, or the late-night tears over a math assignment that seems impossible to finish. There is a paralyzing fear for many young people today that one “B” will somehow unravel their entire future. If you are a teenager feeling this pressure, I want you to know that I

Two women engaging in a thoughtful conversation in a contemporary office setting.

OCD

OCD and Perfectionism: How ERP Therapy Can Help You Break the Cycle

OCD

If you struggle with OCD and perfectionism, you may feel like your mind is constantly demanding more from you. Things don’t just need to be done. They need to be done perfectly. You might find yourself rechecking, overthinking, or redoing tasks until they feel “just right.” And even then, the relief doesn’t last long. This isn’t simply about having high standards. OCD and perfectionism are driven by anxiety and a deep discomfort with uncertainty. Your

Calm female sitting on armchair and giving interview to concentrated woman in light room

social anxiety

How CBT and Exposure Therapy Can Help You Break Free from Social Anxiety