create defiant peace

welcome to the all the hard things blog

One of the most common emails I get sounds something like this. “I was doing SO much better. Then all of a sudden I spiraled again and now I feel like I’m back at square one.” And every single time I read that, I want to grab the person by the shoulders lovingly and say: […]

May 26, 2026

Why You Keep Falling Back Into The Same Anxiety Spiral

Compulsions, OCD and Anxiety Basics, Recovery Tips

The other morning I walked into my kitchen half awake, grabbed my water bottle, took one sip, and immediately noticed black fuzz around the mouthpiece. Absolute prison. I stared at it for like two full seconds while my brain instantly tried to launch into:“What if you already swallowed mold?”“What if you get sick?”“What if there’s […]

Why Intrusive Thoughts Ruin Your Entire Day (And What Keeps The Spiral Going)

May 19, 2026

Compulsions, OCD and Anxiety Basics, Recovery Tips