BIRTHDAY BLUES: WHY WE FEEL SAD AND HOW TO FIND JOY

Ever feel weirdly down as your birthday gets closer? That mix of excitement and dread? There's actual psychology behind this. As a psychiatrist, I'm breaking down why our brains do this birthday thing: the expectation traps, social comparison spirals, and those automatic life reviews that hit every year. I'm sharing the research plus practical tools that actually work - cognitive reframing, self-compassion practices, and creating rituals that feel authentic to YOU. If you've ever planned big then wanted to hide, or felt guilty about birthday anxiety, this one's for you. Let's turn those complicated feelings into growth and genuine celebration. (And if it's your birthday...Happy Birthday!)