For many parents, checking a sleeping baby’s breathing happens occasionally and naturally fades as confidence grows. For others, it becomes a nightly ritual that feels impossible to stop. They know their baby is healthy. They know the risk is low. They know the checking is excessive. And yet, they feel unable to sleep unless they have just confirmed, again, that their baby is alive.

Over the past few years, a particular image of “wellness” has become almost impossible to avoid online. It is often referred to as the clean girl aesthetic. It usually looks like minimal makeup, glowing skin, perfectly styled hair, colour coordinated outfits, a spotless home, neatly organised routines, green juices, Pilates, early mornings, and calm productivity. On the surface, it appears healthy…

When people think of anger, they often picture shouting, slammed doors, or lost control. But anger isn’t just explosive or loud—it can also be quiet, simmering under the surface. For some, it shows up as irritability, impatience, or passive-aggressiveness. For others, it’s an internal boil that never quite reaches the surface, but never fully settles either.

You’re tired—but not just the kind of tired that a good night’s sleep can fix. You feel drained, flat, unmotivated, and like you’re running on fumes. Even things you used to enjoy feel like a chore. You keep pushing through, but deep down, you know something’s not right. This might not just be stress—it could be burnout.

For a lot of families, the idea of a regular family dinner feels unrealistic. Between work, school, sport, homework, activities, and general fatigue at the end of the day, eating together can feel like just another thing to organise. And sometimes eating separately is simply what works.

But there is something clinically meaningful about families sitting down together, even if it’s not frequent, long, or particularly calm.

Over the past few years, many of the people who come into my clinic for help with anxiety and OCD arrive with a diagnosis they have given themselves. They have watched dozens of short videos online. They have saved posts. They have followed creators who speak about mental health. They have taken quizzes. They have recognised parts of themselves in what they have seen.