Three Things I’m Grateful For — Lessons for Anxiety Recovery & Thriving with ADHD
As Thanksgiving season arrives, I’ve been reflecting on the moments in my life that challenged me, stretched me, and ultimately shaped how I move through the world. And as I look back, something becomes very clear:
The experiences I feel grateful for mirror the core principles that help people recover from anxiety, OCD, and thrive with ADHD.
Not because they’re inspirational ideas —
but because they’re the psychological foundations of real change.
Here are three themes I’m grateful for, and why they matter for your recovery too.
1. Doing What’s Uncomfortable Can Open Your World Up
One of the hardest experiences I’ve had was uprooting my life twice.
At age 8, my family and I moved from Hong Kong to Vancouver, BC.
New language. New culture. New everything!
Years later, I moved again — from Vancouver to Chicago for graduate school, eventually settling in Northwest Indiana. It was disorienting, and there were moments that felt deeply isolating.
But those difficult transitions ultimately gave me the meaningful life I have today — my family, my friends, and my work.
What those experiences quietly taught me was this:
Avoidance shrinks your world.
Facing the things you fear — even in small steps — expands it.
This isn’t motivational fluff.
It’s the mechanism behind exposure therapy.
It’s how recovery works.
And we see this every week at our clinic:
when people gently approach the places anxiety tells them to avoid, their world widens.
2. Small, Sustainable Changes Create Real Transformation
Like many women with ADHD, I was diagnosed later in life.
The diagnosis itself didn’t fix everything —
but understanding how my executive functioning works was transformative.
The real shift came from building small, practical systems that supported my brain:
setting clear, specific intentions
breaking tasks into steps
using visual cues and timers
removing distractions
co-working or body doubling
externalizing information (lists, notes, reminders)
practicing self-compassion during overwhelm
letting others help and allowing support in
None of these changes were dramatic.
But they were sustainable —
and that’s what made them powerful.
Deep-diving into ADHD-friendly tools didn’t just help me—
it strengthened how I ensure our clinicians support patients who struggle with avoidance, overwhelm, task initiation, and follow-through.
You don’t need more discipline.
You need systems that work with your brain.
Small steps, repeated consistently, build lasting freedom.
This principle is true across anxiety, OCD, and ADHD recovery and support.
3. Ordinary Moments Are the Real Victories
The older I get, the more grateful I am for the simple, grounded moments that make life meaningful:
attending my son’s football games
snuggling with my daughter while we watch our favorite shows
laughing with friends
spending time outside
drawing inspiration from travel
learning from books
being thoughtful about the media I let into my life
None of these moments are dramatic.
But they’re the ones that make a life feel full.
And this is something we see in patients again and again:
Anxiety and OCD steal ordinary life first —
and recovery gives it back.
When someone starts driving again, traveling again, eating meals without rituals, reconnecting with hobbies, or simply feeling present—
those are the victories that matter.
Those are the moments worth fighting for.
What This Means for Your Recovery & Growth
Gratitude has a way of making what matters unmistakably clear.
And these same themes — doing what’s hard, making small changes, reclaiming daily life — form the backbone of effective treatment.
If anxiety or OCD has made your world feel smaller…
If avoidance has taken over…
If you’re learning how to thrive with ADHD and want support that actually works…
Here’s the belief I hope you take with you:
You can do hard things.
You don’t have to do them alone.
And the life you miss is not out of reach.
Resources That Support Small, Sustainable Change
Atomic Habits — James Clear
Smart but Scattered — Dawson & Guare
Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Jonathan Grayson, Ph.D.
Body-doubling platforms like Flown, FocusMate, or Caveday
When you’re ready, our team is here to help you take the next small, brave step.
With Clarity and Compassion,
