🌍 World Mental Health Day

Dear Friend,

Have you ever woken up with your chest tight, your mind spinning, and the weight of the day pressing down before you even get out of bed? Maybe your heart is racing because of something small, a text you haven’t answered, an email you forgot, a conversation that replayed in your mind overnight. Perhaps scrolling through social media left you feeling “less than,” or a memory from years ago hit like a punch in your stomach. Maybe you’re exhausted, but sleep feels impossible. Maybe guilt, fear, or self-criticism is already whispering in your ear before the day has even started.

This is the reality for so many of us. And it’s why World Mental Health Day matters. We are living through one of the most profound mental health crises in history. Over 280 million people globally struggle with depression, nearly 300 million live with anxiety, and close to 800,000 lives are lost to suicide every year. Social media, economic stress, climate anxiety, and the lingering effects of a pandemic have made these numbers even more alarming. Our nervous systems are constantly on edge, silently under siege.

Let me share some stories with you, real moments I witness every day, experiences that are raw, relatable, and human.

There’s someone who wakes at 2 a.m., heart pounding, to soothe a loved one. They check their phone and immediately feel anxiety spiral, the little pings and notifications becoming reminders that they’re “failing” at life somehow. Their body is tense, shoulders tight, stomach knotted. Over time, through breathwork and grounding, they begin to reconnect to their body. They learn that resting, noticing, and simply being present are not weaknesses, they are essential. And the moment they exhale fully, shoulders dropping, eyes softening, relief washes through their chest like a warm tide.

Another client arrives in my office feeling numb, disconnected, and ashamed. They talk about not being able to feel, not knowing what to do with emotions that bubble up at the most inconvenient moments. We work with slow, intentional breaths, mindful awareness, and gentle reflection. Weeks later, they sit in a session and say, “I didn’t know I could feel and survive at the same time.” You can see it in their posture, the way their chest rises and falls more freely, the way their hands relax in their lap. It’s subtle, but it’s real, and it’s transformative.

One person’s past relationships haunt them in vivid dreams after months of dormancy. They wake soaked in sweat, heart racing, mind replaying conversations, heartbreaks, and regrets. The emotional waves are intense, but necessary. Together, we use breathwork, grounding, and self-compassion to help their body and mind process what’s been held too long. By the end, they can sit quietly, noticing grief and relief coexisting in the same space. “I didn’t realize my body had been holding all of this,” they say, eyes glistening.

In my own life, I experience this constantly. Tiny decisions, what to eat, which email to answer first, whether to take a call, can feel monumental. Notifications ping, news alerts blare, environmental stressors pile on. Learning to pause, to breathe, to come back to my body has been lifesaving. And that’s exactly what I teach others to do, to reconnect with themselves amidst the chaos.

Here’s a quick grounding breath exercise you can do right now:

Sit comfortably, feet firmly on the ground, spine tall.
Close your eyes. Inhale slowly through your nose for four counts.
Hold gently for four counts.
Exhale through your mouth for six counts, letting your shoulders drop and your jaw soften.
Repeat five times, feeling the rise and fall of your chest, the weight of your body supported by the earth beneath you.

Even a few breaths can shift your nervous system from tension to safety, from racing thoughts to presence.

Another story: someone constantly fears judgment. Every word feels scrutinized, every glance dissected. Anxiety courses through their veins like electricity, making it impossible to speak their truth. Through breath, reflection, and guidance, they slowly reconnect to their inner voice. They learn to sit with discomfort, to honor themselves, and to trust that being seen doesn’t have to be terrifying. Over time, moments of clarity and peace emerge like sunlight breaking through clouds.

There’s a person stuck in their career and life, paralyzed by options and decisions. Each choice feels monumental, every opportunity terrifying. Through breathwork, life coaching, and emotional integration, they learn to listen to their intuition, to take small steps without fear. Slowly, clarity and confidence begin to replace anxiety, and the weight of indecision lifts.

And then there’s the person carrying grief, trauma, and unprocessed memories. They enter my space exhausted, weighed down by experiences they couldn’t release on their own. With deep breathwork, nervous system regulation, and therapeutic support, they start to release tension, tears, and fear safely. Healing doesn’t come in a straight line, it comes in waves, in breaths, in moments of presence repeated over and over.

Transformation is happening every day. People who felt disconnected begin to feel present. Those burdened by trauma begin to release it safely. People weighed down by anxiety begin to experience clarity, calm, and hope. Healing doesn’t look the same for everyone, but the opportunity for release, clarity, and peace is available to all.

We are here to meet you wherever you are. Breathwork, therapy, integration, and private life coaching can provide the support you need during these challenging times. And please hear me clearly: money is never a barrier. If you know someone who could benefit but is experiencing financial hardship, reach out. We are committed to making this work accessible to anyone ready to take a step toward reclaiming their nervous system and emotional health.

To honor World Mental Health Day, we are offering a free Bring a Friend ticket with any journey during October. Bring someone who may need support, someone you love, or even yourself. Use promo code “BREATHFRIEND” for their ticket.

These journeys are safe spaces to release tension, reconnect with your body, and experience the transformative power of breath and presence. Mental health is not optional, it is essential. Today, and every day, honor your courage, your humanity, and your capacity to heal. Step into a journey with us, bring a friend, and reclaim a piece of your inner peace. Together, we can navigate this crisis, hold space for one another, and remember what it feels like to truly breathe, feel, and be grounded in our bodies.

Love Always,
Dr. Rachel Sims