OCD Got Me Thinking: Is the First-Born Daughter Destined to Inherit Her Father’s Obsessions?

I am breaking away from the usual tone I use when discussing anxiety and medications for the same - this is not another discussion about whether valium is good for you or how to decode hidden anxiety symptoms. This discussion stems from my rumination: Few ideas lodge themselves into families as stubbornly as the belief that traits travel along specific bloodlines with intention. When a father struggles with obsessive thinking, rigidity, or compulsive behaviors, and his firstborn daughter begins to show signs of heightened anxiety or control, the narrative writes itself: this was passed down. The certainty of that story can feel almost comforting, because it gives shape to fear. It suggests inevitability, lineage, and cause. But psychological inheritance is rarely so obedient. The question of whether first-born daughters are “destined” to inherit OCD or similar traits from their fathers is less about genetic certainty and more about how biology, temperament, attention, and family mythologies quietly collaborate. What is inherited is not a disorder in the clean sense people imagine, but a vulnerability expressed through relationships, expectations, and early meaning-making.

7 Things People Trying to Understand Anxiety Symptoms Should Know

Anxiety has become one of those words people use casually, almost like a throwaway line in a WhatsApp chat. “I have such anxiety about this meeting,” someone says, when what they mean is nervousness. “That traffic jam gave me anxiety,” another remarks, when what they felt was irritation. In popular language, anxiety has blurred into an all-purpose synonym for stress, tension, or nerves. But clinical and lived anxiety disorders are far more layered, often misunderstood not just by those who experience them but also by family, friends, colleagues, and society at large. Unlike a fever or a fractured limb, anxiety doesn’t present itself as an obvious, singular symptom. It can surface hours after an event has passed. It can mimic stomach upset, headaches, or dizziness before it ever announces itself as mental unease. It can hide beneath culturally coded words like ghabrahat in India, taijin kyofusho in Japan, or “burnout” in the West. Sometimes it appears to be avoidance, rituals, over-preparation, or irritability—behaviors often mistaken for quirks rather than distress signals.

Prozac works but why not try the un-chemical way to feel good?

This discussion is not about whether Prozac helps with anxiety. Yes, medicines like Prozac can help you control your anxiety levels, but here, I am discussing some DIY methods that are not equally chemical and don't require you to chase around for a prescription. I have had issues with restoring my mental energy levels every time they get depleted over a few hectic days. Ever since I turned 25, a pattern emerged where, after a couple of days of sustained physical and psychological work, my mind would go into a caffeinated mode, unable to wind down, and as a result, my anxiety levels and the associated digestive symptoms would surface. The medicines I tried over the years to control this habit and its root cause helped to some extent, but there is a catch to using them. No matter what the pharmaceutical world says, there is a downside to every drug out there, prescription or over-the-counter. Once you get into the habit of using mood boosters, or in my case, mood-sustaining salts, there is a big chance your body and mind will stop evolving to help you navigate and manage different phases of your life, and some need you to be alert and calm. My continuous run-ins with these meds also helped me uncover some things that could boost the overall mood and energy levels. These mental health tips are not stolen from the web or blatantly rewritten to engage the search engines. This is from my cup of psychological wellness, and I am sharing some of it with you:

Take some bites: the easiest way to control anxiety on a bad day.

You need to boost your sugar levels, but just a bit, not to the extent that you get a sugar rush. A few bites of literally anything, spaced across one hour where you nibble and munch a lot rather than consume a heavy meal, can help. Don't gulp aerated drinks as they don't hold for much time. Try more bread, cornflakes, some ice cream, a smoothie, a shake, or a small sandwich that you keep biting into. Yes, chocolate helps, but in moderation. Nuts, roasted or with something sweet, can help too. Raisins work in some way and are also a physical energy booster. Bananas tend to make me feel sluggish, so I avoid them despite a whole lot of natural sweetness. This is not meant to cure your anxiety, and it does not help you to cure anxiety. This simple exercise can help you get over anxiety for a few hours and navigate a hectic day at the workplace when there is a distinct burden you are carrying.

Don't force sleep: slightly offbeat anxiety prevention tip.

Trying to route your mind towards a relaxing mode could have disastrous results. You could end up feeling more irritated and less energetic. Don't sit alone and do too many deep breaths...this generic advice does not help many people like me. You might want to lower the intensity of the lighting around you, put on some music, and start engaging your mind with videos or music you like. Trying to put yourself to sleep is often the cause of bringing about anxiety. Your mind starts to dig up answers. You start examining everything that has happened over the course of the day or even yesterday. The further you dig, the farther you are from a good night's sleep. Sometimes, this can make you overthink to the extent that a small daft of anxiety comes knocking. As a rule, don't lie down for too long just because it seems like the right time to sleep or just because someone recommended a quick nap. If you are not someone who is genuinely good at power naps, don't stress it. Don't go chasing the general rule of an 8-hour sleep cycle. Keep it simple - sleep only when you are naturally slipping into it.

Online window shopping or OTT indulgence: easy ways to control anxiety

For shopping enthusiasts like me, an easy way to maintain sanity on a slightly stressed day is working on an online shopping cart. Prune the wish-listed products. Cancel items whose items have just escalated. Try to read into the current sales campaign. Save items you might need in the near future. De-link or upload more of your payment cards. Update shipping addresses or link a digital wallet that can provide some savings the next time you actually buy something. Indulge in some online product comparisons. Overall, this exercise might not lead to actually buying great products, but it occupies your mind in a way that takes the focus away from something that has been bothering you. It also takes away the need to sip beer. Making a big bowl of homemade popcorn and catching up with that OTT show that has been waiting in the watchlist is another good idea. Let the OTT zombies chew down your anxiety levels. A bit of butter on the popcorn will not make you morbidly obese, and renewing the monthly OTT subscription is still a lot cheaper than getting dependent on valium or Prozac.

Find getting-rid-of videos: easiest tools for managing rising anxiety levels.

This must be the strangest advice for controlling anxiety, but sometimes, it actually works. There are a lot of videos on YouTube and Instagram where people are getting rid of some strange wart or mole, overgrown nails that challenge Shrek, or hair that has never been clipped for decades. How does this work? When you are watching this type of visual content, there is a feeling of superficial, artificial relief that kicks in as the ugliest nails are clipped off, unruly locks are shaven away, or blackheads are pulled out. This helps in unwinding in a private, aloof manner, and such content is available at all times. While I call it getting-rid-of content, it can be slightly overbearing if you are watching it for the first time. Believe me, nobody really likes watching ultra-magnified views of ingrown hair on the chin being pulled out, but when you are out of quick answers to manage anxiety, anything is worth trying. However, if you chance upon animal slaughter videos uploaded by PETA-type agencies and find the recorded killings somewhat calming, you probably need help - the idea here is not to turn sadistic.

Online & Offline Clean-up: the simplest way to distract away oncoming anxiety 

You need an instant boost of goodness, and this is closely associated with a feeling of accomplishment. You need instantly doable tasks that help you feel that way. How can you do it? Get on your smartphone or get on your knees. Dust away things that are cluttering your desk or room, and your mailbox. Kick away, dump, and delete everything that seems mundane or highly unusable. From glamorous Apps to what seems no-long-usable on the bedside table, eradicate, and kill stuff that is not serving any purpose. This keeps your mind busy, works up the body a bit, and you get a nice feeling of gaining more control. Plus, your room partner or your mom would have one less reason to scream at you - how is this a bad deal?

NOT sure-shot ways to reduce anxiety - find your own fix...

There are days when running or heavy weight-lifting, even stretching, and some burpees can bring back that feeling of being alert, a reasonably good mood, and restore energy levels to some extent. And there are days when all of the things shared above don't make any impact. Like I said, this is not swallowing a pill and slightly numbing your mind. The entire efforts here are on managing your anxiety without using prescription pills or things that can be addictive. Usually, having too much caffeine or sugar does not help. Driving around aimlessly also does not get the job done. In contrast, something as simple as sipping some form of fluids might not take away that feeling of low, but it can prevent ruining your mood. You have to try it all and find what works best for you. For instance, every time I am snacking on crispy, crumbly stuff, making all sorts of horrible eating noises, my mind seems totally distracted, as if the focus has been taken away from overanalyzing things. And in the work-from-home schedule that has been enforced upon us, anxiety can come calling in the most unusual ways. You have to find simpler, non-medicated ways of keeping up your state of mental health.

I recommend trying out:

• Slow, conscious exhaling with a slight humming sound

• Chewing your food more consciously, taking extra minutes to swallow each bite

• Listening to music that tends to make your mind travel, even if for just a few minutes

• If you are connected to paper & pen, try to write a bit, try to journal your feelings a bit

• If you are addicted to blogging, write about anything - it really works [personal website]

• Tightening the grip on a body part, almost to the point of making it numb, and then releasing 

Why are some people inherently irritating?

We've all encountered them – those people who just seem to rub us the wrong way for no apparent reason. Some people just happen to make us mad all the time for no apparent reason. Their mannerisms, way of speaking, or their very presence causes an unconscious feeling of annoyance or irritation to bubble up inside us. But why is this? What makes some individuals come across as inherently irritating to others? The answer obviously is not simple or straight. It most probably lies in a complex interplay of human behavior, personality types, and even mental health factors.

Negativity Detoxification is serious stuff - not just another DIY detox bootcamp!

The need to detoxify from negativity has become paramount for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Negativity, whether originating from external sources or internal thoughts, can take a toll on our overall health. This article explores practical and evidence-based strategies to detoxify from negativity, delving into the science behind these methods to provide actionable insights for cultivating a more positive mindset.

Understanding the Impact of Negativity on Mental Health:

Negativity, in its various forms, can significantly affect mental health. It cannot always be subdued with a few shots of Valium. Constant exposure to negative stimuli, be it through news cycles, social media, or personal interactions, can contribute to heightened stress levels, anxiety, and even depression. Recognizing the impact of negativity is the first step toward implementing effective detoxification strategies.

A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology reviewed longitudinal studies on the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders. The findings highlighted a correlation between increased exposure to negative life events and a higher risk of developing mental health issues (Kessler et al., 2010).

Palm Clenching to Navigate Anxious Oceans | DIY Anxiety Management

You might want to read my post about using hand grippers to handle oncoming anxiety first to get an idea about this piece of writing. Essentially, after seeing all those stress balls lying around, even shown on TV and the movies, I decided to try this technique of keeping your hands busy to calm yourself. Yes, it works! Now, I am trying to find ways of using this more as a part of my daily life. Clenching your palms is easy. Yes, you can clench a lot of things but not every type of clenching is about releasing the pressure that builds up over a period. From my observations, being anxious and clenching the muscles around your gut can worsen issues like mental health-linked IBS. Now, read ahead to understand this very common but rarely talked about anxiety management tip:

Try to Push-up Towards Better Mental Health - When Exercising is about the MIND!

This isn’t just another article about positive thinking. This discussion is essentially a condensed narrative of how I have struggled, fought, and also won on some occasions, small battles en route to trying to create a better lifestyle, especially something that can help me improve my mental health. You might think that push-ups are meant for pectoral gains only. Believe me, the connection between push-ups and mental health is very real, easy to understand, and can be pursued by anyone who is above 15 years of age…the image captures the essence of a push-up regimen. What seems like a long flight of empty stairs can be the challenge of a lifetime for someone chasing cardio gains. All of a sudden, the dead, cold steel and concrete seem to have all the weapons to break your resolve. But, you must persist...!

Uncluttering to Gain Composure: Is it really so simple?

Minimalism & De-cluttering Helps |
Gain Better Mental Health

I had read about this many times but never took the initiative to actually try it. Cluttered surroundings, filled with things we might need and usually never need, is the source of much anxiety. I have discovered this rather late in my life, realizing that my desk, from where I am blogging right now, is totally clobbered. It is filled with things that I usually don’t need. They continue to occupy more space but serve very little purpose. I am prone to getting anxious without an accurate reason. Sometimes, the feeling just overcomes me in the most unexplained manner.

Sleeping with a Collar? Not my cup of tea!

Discussing My Strange Reason for Sleeping Difficulties

Needless to say that I have had falling-asleep issues. These have oscillated from being awake at night like an owl to having the most frightening thoughts ruminating in my mind. The result has been what I call superficial sleep. The sleep here used to be slightly disturbed with some depressing thoughts doing rounds in the head. The result was this feeling of something tied to your upper back and forehead – the feeling was not perhaps as acute migraine bouts but it was awful. Now, during this phase of high sleep sensitivity I developed another habit or a handicap – I just couldn’t sleep with any type of nightwear that has anything alike a collar.

[Suggested Reading: My Sleep, Anxiety Troubles & Meds]

That Heavy Anxious Feeling: Exhaling Away the Blues, with a Thrust

You must have heard about breathing correctly. More and more lifestyle coaches and wellness instructors are talking about the need our breathing pattern. Even Ramdev has repeatedly emphasized that breathing out or exhaling is more calming for the entire body, helping you stay more relaxed. In comparison, inhaling in takes a toll on our mind and body. While am not sure about why inhaling can be so villainous, am pretty sure that breathing out, with some effort, does keep you calmer.

[Suggested Reading: Me, Anxiety & Mornings]

No Monkeying Around: Are you eating a banana or hot dog?

Call me crazy for observing and commenting about the smallest things that happen around me but the fact is that I just cannot help it. A few days back, I saw this guy perched on a small slab like thing along the road, eating a banana. There is nothing serious or wrong about consuming a fruit that is extremely high on carbs, potassium and sodium and is known to help people relax better and sleep. However, there was something odd about the way in which he was holding the banana, fully peeled, held horizontally, just like we eat hot dogs. I have seen many members of the ape family, particularly monkeys, eat their banana in a manner that is far more groomed, peeling away the fruit and eating it one or two bites at a time.

DIY Anxiety Management: Need that Morning Sense of Calmness

There is one challenge that has been constantly biting me – the inability to dress up in a calm, relaxed manner when getting ready for the daily drive that leads me to the office. Why? I am a self-confessed, highly embraced, chronic anxiety sufferer, and despite my best efforts, the smallest of changes in plans for the day, from a minor change of breakfast menu to running any small errand that might surface at the last moment, I tend to get a bit agitated. During winters, this feeling is somewhat controlled as I don't sweat as much but during summers, the feeling can be excruciatingly bothersome. To explain this better, I will need to divulge more details about my morning routine too, and the stickiness of it that is also a bit of a challenge. The thing is that I need a few minutes of working in the morning to get in the right frame of mind and soldier up for the day to follow. This is not about gaining muscle or fitting into a muscle tee. This is just a means to an end, as it helps me prepare mentally for things that might bother me and those that have already been marked as problems to solve. Whether I am expected to be a peacemaker or a troubleshooter at home or the office, the morning workout helps me be better at it. But working out comes with another challenge - the sweating and the time it takes to snap out of the exercising mode.

Trying to Breathe-In, Hold and Then, Exhale the Anxiety Out of ME

If you have visited this blog a couple of times, it would have been apparent by now that am a unique blend of being a hypochondriac, serial assumer, and unnecessarily honest. Each of these traits, combined with my ability to shunt out any human interaction that does not seem important leads to a widening space for feeling anxious. I have been in and out of gym sessions and yoga classes to help me unwind better, stop the overthinking and get more realistic about life.

Allergy to prescription medicines? Read This...

2017 has been a bit overwhelming, with nearly four instances of a full-blown allergic reaction on the face. This seemed like a herpes breakout and I was using multiple anti-virals for this at one point. Subsequent medical investigation yielded the fact that the breakouts were closer to and more likely to happen again when using certain medications. The trick, as I have realized, after a lot of suffering, lies in finding out the possible factors and then creating layers of self-defense, where you want to avoid the possible allergens, especially when you are already suffering from some disease or a temporary condition like the flu.

Breathing Deep: the Simplest Way to Calm Yourself

Call this Anxiety Management in a jiffy but yes it is true and comes without the fear of side-effects or addiction fears - the things we associate with conventional and modern prescription drugs for anxiety, IBS, depression, obsessive thinking...



Personal Anxiety Management Experiences

I have to confess that I am an anxious soul. I don’t get flustered easily but a sense of uneasiness often overcomes me. I have tried anti-anxiety medications too. Called anxiolytics, these medications are supposed to slow down the release of chemicals that induce a sense of anxiousness. However, I didn’t find these to be too helpful. What has helped is a very simple change I have made to my everyday existence—breathing in a more relaxed manner.

Read about Anxiety Management in the Easiest Way: No Meds, Just Pinch Yourself

Browsing the web, I realized that most of us don’t breathe right. When anxious, this problem worsens as we breathe even more shallowly. I decoded this pattern in my daily life too. Every time I got into an over-thinking mode, my breathing was laboured. I would inhale air in huge bouts and gasps. The consistent smooth breathing pattern was missing. According to researchers, shallow breathing is both a result and cause of anxiety.

Read about Defeating Anxiety Using the Exhale Quick & Strong Approach - It Works!!

It starts when you feel anxious and it also stimulates anxiety symptoms like headaches, acidity or that burning feeling in the stomach. I have put a simple practice into motion. Whenever I feel overworked or getting restless, I shun my work for a minute and start breathing deeper, drawing in more air and exhaling it slowly. The idea is to make your breathing more relaxed. The results are better than depending upon Valium or Prozac.

To take this discussion further, you might want to read about my anxiety management approach during Mornings