create defiant peace

welcome to the all the hard things blog

If you’ve ever noticed that anxiety doesn’t show up during the “big, obvious stressors”, but instead ambushes you in the car, in the shower, folding laundry, or lying in bed, you’re not imagining it. In fact, this is one of the most common (and most maddening) experiences my clients and students describe. Why anxiety hits […]

January 27, 2026

Why Anxiety Hits Hardest in Everyday Moments (and What to Do When It Does)

Affirmations, Compulsions, OCD and Anxiety Basics, Recovery Tips

If you’ve ever had a thought pop into your head and immediately thought, “What the hell was that?” – welcome. You’re in the right place. Intrusive thoughts are one of the most misunderstood parts of OCD and anxiety. They’re scary, unwanted, random, and wildly convincing. And for a lot of people, the moment an intrusive […]

Intrusive Thoughts 101: Why They Happen (and Why Fighting Them Makes Everything Worse)

January 20, 2026

Compulsions, OCD and Anxiety Basics, Recovery Tips