Dr. Julie Smith

The Internal Compass of Mental Health When you feel the weight of a heavy mood or the sharp prick of anxiety, your first instinct is likely to find a way to fix it—as if you are a broken machine in need of a replacement part. This perspective often stems from the long-held belief that depression and anxiety are primarily caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, specifically a lack of serotonin. However, the psychological landscape is shifting. Recent discussions highlight that while medication like SSRIs can be a part of the puzzle for some, the "broken brain" narrative is increasingly viewed with cynicism. Relying solely on biological explanations can be unintentionally disempowering, leading you to believe that your mental state is a matter of fate rather than a dynamic system you can influence. In my practice, I find that hearing someone's story reveals a much more compassionate truth: "Of course you feel this way." Your distress is rarely a random glitch; it is a reflection of your life story, your traumas, and your environment. If we took the happiest person on earth and stripped them of sleep, sunlight, community, and meaningful work, they would inevitably spiral. This realization is actually the ultimate source of hope. If your environment and behaviors can negatively impact your brain chemistry, it means your intentional actions can shift it back. You are not a victim of your biology; you are a participant in it. Moving Beyond the Mind to Heal the Mind A common trap in personal growth is trying to "think" your way out of a feeling. We analyze, we obsess, and we ruminate, hoping that if we just find the right logical argument, the anxiety will vanish. But as Andrew Huberman aptly suggests, you often cannot control the mind with the mind. When you are in the middle of a high-stress response, your cognitive brain is effectively offline. This is why the most effective first step is often physical. Learning to use your body to signal safety to your brain is a foundational skill. Simple breathing techniques can act as a physiological brake system for your nervous system. These tools are fast-acting and accessible to everyone, regardless of whether you are in formal therapy. While shifting your relationship with your thought patterns is a vital long-term strategy, the "quick wins" found in movement and breathwork provide the stability needed to do that deeper work. It’s about building a toolkit that addresses both the immediate fire of a panic response and the slow-burning embers of long-term thought cycles. The Paradox of Avoidance and Confidence We often misunderstand anxiety as a signal that we are in danger, when in reality, it is usually just a signal that we are uncomfortable. The most natural human response to discomfort is avoidance. If a situation makes you feel exposed or judged, your brain shouts at you to escape. The problem is that avoidance is the fuel that keeps anxiety burning. Every time you avoid the thing you fear, you reinforce the idea that you cannot handle it. This shrinks your world, making your comfort zone smaller and smaller until the simple act of going to the supermarket feels like a Herculean task. To expand your life, you must be willing to engage in graded exposure. This isn't about jumping into the deep end of your greatest fears; it’s about taking that first manageable step outside your comfort zone and repeating it until it feels mundane. Confidence is not a prerequisite for action; it is a byproduct of action. You don't wait to feel confident to give the presentation; you give the presentation until the anxiety loses its power. By leaning into the discomfort rather than running from it, you prove to your nervous system that you are capable of navigating the threat. Reframing the Threat as an Ally What if the racing heart and sweaty palms weren't signs of a failing system, but signs of a body preparing for peak performance? There is a powerful shift that happens when you move from "I am nervous" to "I am excited." Physically, stress and excitement look remarkably similar. Both involve a surge of neurotransmitters designed to narrow your focus and increase your alertness. When you stop judging these uncomfortable feelings as "bad," you can start to use them to your advantage. If you have a big meeting or a public performance, that stress response is actually your body dumping resources into your system to help you succeed. Reframing the experience as a performance enhancer allows you to take the feeling with you rather than letting it hold you back. You can acknowledge the catastrophizing thought—"This is going to go terribly"—recognize it as a biased story your brain is telling to keep you safe, and then refocus on the task at hand. The goal isn't to be fearless; it's to be willing to act while feeling the fear. Breaking the Cycle of Rumination While anxiety looks forward at potential catastrophes, depression often looks backward through the lens of rumination. This is the process of turning over past mistakes or painful experiences again and again. It is a major predictor of relapse because it keeps you anchored in a version of yourself that no longer exists. Breaking this cycle requires a high level of self-awareness. You must learn to "note" the thought as it arises, much like a bird’s-eye view of a passing storm. By labeling a thought as "catastrophizing" or "ruminating," you create a tiny bit of distance—a gap between the thought and your identity. In that gap lies your power to choose. You can say "Stop" out loud, shift your physical environment, or engage in a tactile activity like exercise to ground yourself in the present. Movement is particularly effective here because it forces a biological shift that interrupts the mental loop. Living by Values, Not by Mood Ultimately, a meaningful life is not built on how you feel in a given moment, but on how you show up despite how you feel. Low mood will always give you the urge to do the things that keep you stuck: to isolate, to stay in bed, to cancel plans. This is the "mood pitfall." The secret to resilience is recognizing these urges and doing the opposite. This is where Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) becomes life-changing. It encourages you to define your values—not as goals to be achieved, but as directions to be traveled. How do you want to show up as a parent, a partner, or a friend? When you have clarity on your values, you can make decisions based on the person you want to be rather than the mood you happen to be in. If you value connection but your mood tells you to hide, you choose the phone call because it aligns with your value. One intentional step at a time, these small choices aggregate into a transformed life. You may not realize you're changing while it's happening, but one day you will look back and barely recognize the person you used to be.