Jen Freilino

I help teenagers and adults manage their anxiety and stress better. There is a level of anxiety that is normal, that everyone feels, and that can even be productive. Then there is the kind of anxiety that is crippling—that is not often understood by those around us and that gets in the way of our happiness. It can keep you up at night, make you constantly distracted, affect your work or school performance, and even make you physically sick. Sometimes it can feel like anxiety comes out of nowhere, leaving you feeling confused, helpless, and desperate to find some relief (even if it’s not in a healthy way). When I was younger, I developed this kind of anxiety. I wasn’t sure what caused it at the time, or how to deal with it constructively–I just knew that it was taking over my life and getting in the way of what mattered most to me. I was skeptical of counseling at first, but I stuck with it and am forever grateful for those who helped me figure it all out. I used to think peace was