Dr. MCB (Dr. Marie Claire Bourque)

Feel like a human grenade with a permanently pulled pin? You're not alone. Emotional regulation is a critical skill many of us were never taught. This guide, from a psychiatrist, gives you the fire extinguisher. Learn four simple, powerful tools (like the S.T.O.P. method) to stop reacting like a startled cat and start responding with thought. It’s time to defuse the bomb, take back control, and find progress, not perfection.

You weren't born afraid of your own feelings—that was learned. As children, many of us received subtle messages that our emotions were too much, inconvenient, or unsafe. Our adaptive brains learned to suppress them to maintain connection and safety. As adults, this pattern of emotional avoidance leads to anxiety, disconnection, and the ache of a half-lived life. This post reveals the truth: feelings are not dangerous. Discover how to break free from old programming and reclaim your full self.

Living with a chronic illness isn’t just about the physical symptoms—the emotional exhaustion can be just as difficult. It's easy to feel like life has veered off course. But what if you could find purpose and fulfillment, even with your diagnosis? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a path forward. This guide explains how using ACT for chronic illness can help you make space for difficult emotions, focus on what truly matters, and take back control of your life's direction.