When your mind is flooded with stress, loss, or disappointment, it’s normal to draw a blank. Gratitude requires presence, and presence is hard when you’re exhausted or overwhelmed. Start small. You don’t have to feel grateful for your whole life, just for a single moment.

The problem comes when constant comparison turns into self-judgment. Instead of learning or connecting, you start ranking yourself: She’s more successful than me. He’s in better shape. Their family seems happier. Before long, every glance at social media or every interaction with friends becomes another way to measure yourself and come up short.

Anxiety doesn't mean that there's something wrong with you. It’s your nervous system doing its job—trying to keep you safe. But sometimes that alarm stays on, even when there’s no fire. Chronic anxiety often grows out of two things: past experiences that left your system on high alert, and current stressors that keep pushing your limits. The result is a body that never fully relaxes.