Connie Christine

Anxiety is not only experienced in the mind- it also lives in the body. One thing I continue learning through my training is how often the nervous system carries stress before we fully put words to it. Tightness in the chest, restlessness, fatigue, and shallow breathing can be early signals from the body. In many ways, the body speaks before the mind understands. This is part of why I’m drawn to mind-body practices like yoga. Slow breathing, gentle movement, and body awareness can help signal...

Anxiety does not always present the same way across cultures. Culture plays a powerful role in how emotional distress is experienced, expressed, and understood. Culturally responsive mental health care goes beyond language translation- it requires understanding how culture shapes symptom expression, help-seeking, and what feels safe to disclose. Among many Latino individuals, anxiety may be expressed more somatically, through headaches, stomach distress, chest tightness, fatigue, or what is...

One thing I’ve been sitting with lately in my psychopathology training is this idea: Mental health doesn’t live in just one place. It’s not only in the brain. It’s not only in a diagnosis. And it’s definitely not just a checklist of symptoms. Yes, tools like the DSM exist for a reason. They help clinicians communicate, stay consistent, and make sure people can access care. But what I’m learning is that those tools are meant to support understanding, not replace it. Mental health takes shape...