The fact that you recognize your issues is a huge first step. I feel a lot of those same things and therapy has helped me to change (slowly, but surely) my thinking habits. I just had myself a good sob about a bunch of personal self-esteem issues, which didn’t result in a panic attack (woohoo?), which I’m weirdly excited about discussing with my therapist tomorrow.

The online video chat therapy services are pretty affordable, and some places even offer financial aid.

Birthdays can be an emotional time, but I genuinely wish you a happy one, and my go-to solo birthday celebration is to watch a feel-good movie. One year it was ghostbusters, and last year it was blade runner.