Hattie C. Cooper's Blog, page 5

Get Yer Gratitude On

Not just today. Every day.

Forcing myself to slow down and acknowledge there is more abundance in my life than I might think has been one of the most powerful habits I’ve learned. It is the first thing I do when I can feel the clouds of depression rolling over distant mountaintops. It’s what I do when I feel the scratching claws of anxiety in the back of my throat. It’s a easy as it is hard.

Rewire your thought patterns.

I’m grateful for dogs.
A hot cup of tea.
Fog in the morning.
People who...

7 Weird But Effective Ways to Survive Thanksgiving with Your Significant Other’s Family

Let’s do this. Let’s survive Thanksgiving together.

Wear Something Comfortable
While you might think “I gotta wear something sharp! Something that makes me look respectable and responsible and just a little bit drop-dead-gorgeous because I want to IMPRESS” the honest truth is, the most important thing you can do is dress in a way that makes you feel like you. It can still be a new or nice outfit, but make sure it’s as comfortable as a baked potato in a down blanket (cozy as fuck). I’ve been...

Once Again, Jenny Jaffe Rocks Our World

One of the weird side effects of our incredibly connected, social-media-driven world is how it can sometimes feel like you don’t exist if you choose to step away for a bit. Whether you’re afraid of missing out on social events, you’re afraid you’ll stop knowing what’s going on in the world, or you’re afraid people WILL FORGET YOU EXIST, the fear can be real. That’s why I fell head over heels in LOVE with this new video Jenny Jaffe (the founder of Project UROK) createdin response to some of th...

“The Anxious Girl’s Guide to Dating” Fall Sale

Fall is my favorite season. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. And being grateful and showing gratitude makes me happier than a mouse who got lost in a cheese shop.

So, in the spirit of gratitude I am saying a huge “thank you“to all my readers by holding a fall sale for The Anxious Girl’s Guide to dating book. Now, until November 30th, you can get the book for $3.99.

Here’s what some people are saying about the book:

“It made me feel uplifted, stronger, and made me want to dance around my l...

When Your Body Answers the Question “How are you?” For You

All my life I have found myself feeling betrayed by my body. Often this betrayal comes in the form of a serious bowel issue coming up at a seriously inopportune time. However, other times it rears its ugly head in poorly timed crying, aggressive gas in public places, or massive cystic pimples on my chin right before my cousin’s wedding.

All of these things can be traced back to my lifelong relationship with stress and anxiety. Last week I had another startling reminder that my body often know...

Ask What You Want Wednesday: Endless Texting Anxiety

Dear Hattie,
I’ve been with my boyfriend for about 4 months now and no matter what I do, I cannot shake this constant anxiety over his texts. Now, it’s not like I don’t see this dude in person. I see him a solid 3-4X a week. I spend the entire weekend at his house. However, I instantly freak out when I don’t get a goodnight text or a good morning text. I constantly overanalyze his texts and question if he still wants to be with me or not.

Then, lo and behold, I see him in person and he’s love...

15 Reasons It’s So Damn Scary to Fall in Love

1.If you grow to love someone deeply, to start building a life with them, to trust them, depend on them, believe in them, and dream with them, then you are at risk of losing everything.

2.Being vulnerable with someone is like being a crab without its shell who is then expected to cross an eight-lane highway during rush hour.

3.A dear friend of mine lost her father to a sudden heart attack while we were still in high school. Years later, I don’t recall how it came up, but she said she was afra...

Ask What You Want Wednesday: Struggling to Date with Emetophobia

Dear Hattie,

I struggle with dating a lot and I severely struggle with Emetophobia as well. For years my emetophobia has just been afear of vomiting in front of others andembarrassingmyself. However, lately I haveactually been vomiting in social situations, especially when I see a guy I am interested in. I am so ashamed of this and I’m trying to find the humor in it, but I am terrified that if I start to date this guy that I won’t be able to do it because of the vomiting. I would love to hea...

This is EVERYTHING

I stumbled across this recent performance piece by Brenna Twohy where she compares her anxiety to a haunted house. She hails from the Portland area and I have no idea how I’ve never heard of her before. Breathtaking.

It is just so perfect. Especiallyfor the end of October.

Watch. Connect. Love. Share.

Why I Wish People Would Stop Telling Me to Develop a Thicker Skin

Growing up, I heard it a lot. “You need to grow a thicker skin if you want to survive in this world!” Most likely this was said to me as a I sat blubbering or drooling in tears because I just watched a pigeon with one leg hobble across the street.

The truth is, I bruise easily. Emotionally, mentally, and physically. I’m the human version of what a peach would look like if it sprouted legs and wandered out into a forest shoutingwhat a nice night for some socializing hey is that a hungry lookin...