Kaileen McMickle, MS, LPC

Seems like you have some confidence in your track abilities, but feel pressured by your dad to continue something you don't really enjoy. Are you maybe worried about disappointing your dad, or is it something about track itself that upsets you or overwhelms your body?When we try to push through... more

I'm so sorry you aren't being taken seriously. I hope you have at least one person in your life that believes you and will listen to you. Sometimes when family members don't give us a chance to be heard, we can find someone in our lives that makes us feel like we matter. If you struggle with... more

It's definitely possible that your response to anxiety is to swear, though you don't have to feel controlled by that reaction. As a teen, you're developing your identity based on what feels right to you and what doesn't. It's OK to be different than your friends, and just being around swearing... more

Sure can! Especially social anxiety or anxiety in the form of paranoia. Are there any patterns to when or where this happens most? Does it ever happen with people you feel safe and comfortable with? Or only when you are in an uncomfortable social setting? If you notice any patterns, you can... more

Feeling neglected in a romantic relationship can be pretty painful, so I don't think your response is anything out of the ordinary. I do wonder what you mean when you say you stress over everything and break down easily. Is that according to your own assessments or someone else's? What do those... more

Night is hard for a lot of people, so you are definitely not alone here. Has anything scary ever happened to you at night? Answering that question may give you the "why" of where that's coming from. If you haven't had a bad experience at night, it may just be the time when you have nothing to do... more

What kinds of things help you to feel safe? I think it's great you've already tried a few things to help yourself sleep, even if they don't work. Those methods of coping could be targeting something other than paranoia--which is maybe why you aren't finding those things are helpful. If you are... more

What a heavy situation to be in. It must be really hard to feel like you aren't able to help your son and the help you do try to give isn't truly helping him or you. There's some things in this situation that are out of your control--what your son does, if he takes help or doesn't, and the... more

I think what you are describing is pretty common. Even people without social anxiety have a hard time talking to their partner's family--it can feel overwhelming.One thing about social anxiety is that it creates avoidance behavior. You may be avoiding conversation so you don't embarrass yourself... more

Talking with parents can be very challenging, even if they are loving and understanding. Have you ever discussed these issues in the past? If so, how did they respond? It'd make sense if you were avoiding a discussion if they have responded negatively to you, or even neutrally. We rely on our... more

Glad you are reaching out here!There are two types of self-harm: suicidal and non-suicidal. A lot of people I see and have seen engage in self-harm just to manage emotional dysregulation, but not to end their lives. Self-injury actually does a great job at helping us to manage really intense... more

I've worked with teens in a day treatment program for about 6 years now and it's been a theme that a lot of them see dark figures out of the corner of their eyes. Pretty common with teens that have endured trauma--physical or sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence, etc. We don't have a lot of... more

It's great that you are at least aware of what pushes you to seek change in your life.If you were in session with me, one of the first things I'd explore is what "tough" means for you. Is it relationship issues with other people? Or tasks related to your job? Or is it something else? It's... more

You are dealing with a lot of emotions about your relationship and it must be really difficult to be doing that without support.What brings you to believe it's specifically separation anxiety? Did you feel the same way when he'd leave before the new job? I'm not saying it isn't, but it sparks my... more

Absolutely! Exposure techniques in counseling have shown to be extremely effective for working through compulsions. First thing I would say is to make sure you feel a good connection with your counselor and you feel it's a good fit. It's hard to get through that anxiety already, but having a... more