A Stress-Reducing Playlist for Filing Taxes Last Minute
Very Specific Playlists is a weekly feature in which Jezebel staffers make very specific Spotify playlists based on their weird proclivities.
My Quarter-Life Crisis Explained Through Moderately Expensive Skincare
I think I had a quarter-life crisis recently. Maybe it was an existential crisis—or perhaps just a bad day. In fact, I’m (big realization here) starting to think these things we call crises—the waves of uncertainty and anxiety about our future and place in the world—is basically just called living life.
Georgia Parents, Sensing Sorcery, Push School to Ban Use of the Word 'Namaste'
Administrators at Bullard Elementary School in Kennesaw, Georgia, have had to change elements of its yoga and mindfulness practices after parents protested that their children were being corrupted by evil non-Christian beliefs.
Trump Is Succeeding Because of How Badly White Americans Want Their Supremacy Back
“How is this happening,” we think, watching Trump go from joke to threat, with the momentum of a natural disaster, as he lies and blusters and calls for bans and deportations and holds rallies that are like ‘90s wrestling matches except much, much worse. Jamelle Bouie at Slate makes a strong, clear argument that the…
How To Manage Hypochondriasis
I am a hypochondriac, which is to say I’m constantly and acutely obsessed with the idea that I’m suffering from, or I’m about to be diagnosed with, a serious medical condition. For as long as I can recall—I was born in 1985, and so possess at least somewhat vivid memories dating back to late ’89, early ‘90, such as…
The Gamer Who Didn't Leave His House For Over a Year
“I went to GameStop a couple of months ago and even that wasn’t a far trip at all,” says Troy. He pauses for a few seconds, as if lost in thought. “I wanted some Wii U games,” he laughs. “That was interesting.”
Anxious Minds, Rejoice: Study Shows That Worrying Is Sometimes Good for You
Life is chaotic; outcomes are uncertain; worrying is inevitable. In spite of knowing this intuitively, we tend to think of worrying types as ill-suited to endure the stress of living. New research suggests the opposite.
No, Sex Shouldn't Hurt: What to Do if You're Experiencing Sexual Pain
A study from April’s Journal of Sexual Medicine found that a whopping 30% of women experienced pain during their last sexual experience. Sadly, a lot of women operate under the assumption that sex is inherently painful, and that all you can do is grit your teeth and get through it. Nothing could be further from the…
What I Learned About Anxiety When My Dad Got Circumcised at Age 68
My phone vibrated against my hip, alerting me to a text message. “Had to take your daddy to the doctor,” Mama’s text read. “There were problems with his circamsite.”
Winter Is a Black Hole: How I Deal With Seasonal Depression
Seasonal depression hits for me, like clockwork, the day after Halloween.
Facebook Braggers Are the Least Secure In Their Relationships
A new study has found that people who make the biggest fucking deal about their relationships on the internet tend to, conversely, feel very insecure about their relationships. Take that, love.
Sochi Olympics Sounding More and More Like a Death Trap
I've never been obsessed with the Olympics to the point that I'd buy officially licensed Olympic gear; however, I have been an enthusiastic viewer of the Olympics to the point that sometimes I have nightmares that are narrated by Elfi Schlegel. But in the build up to these Sochi Winter Games, now less than 2 weeks…
Childhood Scaredy Farts Linked to Adult Anxiety
Kids who suffer from inexplicable, chronic stomach pains are at a high risk for developing an anxiety disorder in adulthood, according to a new study. This makes total sense to anyone who's ever been nervous to the point of diarrhea.
Want Less Stress in Your Life? Join a Choir, Nerd
Belonging to a choir might make you a dork — but it'll make you a chill-ass dork.
How to Get Over In-Flight Anxiety (Without Gobbling Pills or Drinks)
With almost one in three American adults anxious about flying, the de-stress ritual of a pre-flight cocktail to in-flight glass of wine/quaaludes routine is coming to be everyone's go-to for dealing with flying nerves. Now, ain't nothing wrong with a little booze or a couple of clonazepam to calm your nerves (or…
Now Dads Are Just as Stressed About Not Spending Time with Their Kids as Moms Are
We've reached a new milestone in the effort to gender-neutralize the division of household labor: fathers are now just as stressed about not having enough time to bond with their children as mothers are. Parenting stress, at long last, is really becoming gender-blind.
Yoga, Therapy Dogs and Recess Thought to Make High School Somewhat Tolerable
As much as we like to give teenagers a hard time for being a bunch of selfish and destructive sext bots, that fact of the matter is that teens today face more pressures than ever before and not just because of social media. Getting into college has become more and more competitive in the faltering economy, leaving…
Your Little Brother Isn't Just a Maximum Dweebazoid—He Might Have Also Caused Your Depression
I didn't grow up with siblings anywhere near my age, so I have no idea what it feels like to have some dickhead who looks like you constantly slamming doors and touching your stuff. (Or, conversely, to be that dickhead. Or both. Whatever.) And I was always jealous of people who did—like, maybe if I'd grown up with…
The Key to Productivity and Success: Be Really Fucking Stressed Out All the Time
Oh, great. You know those shudders of overwhelming terror you feel in the pit of your stomach when it's down to the wire and you have to finish a big project? Well, according to psychologists, "a little anxiety may be just what you need to focus your efforts and perform at your peak." So those are success tremors!…
Your Anxiety is Making You Act Stupider Than You Actually Are
Hey, Nervous Nellies! Did you know that in addition to eating away at your stomach lining and causing your blood pressure to spike and making you so disablingly self-conscious that you can barely bring yourself to ask the waitress for more coffee, your unrelenting anxiety is actually hindering your brain's…
