Some of the deepest grief we carry isn’t about what we lost—it’s about what we never got. The parent who couldn’t show up. The relationship that never felt safe. The support that never came. This week’s post explores what it means to grieve what never was—and why that grief is valid, real, and worthy of compassion.

I’ll be honest—this one was hard to write. Not because I didn’t know what to say, but because so much of it hits home. My own relationship with Father’s Day is complicated, and my feelings about my dad are layered. Grief, longing, questions that don’t have answers—it all shows up for me too.

If you’ve been second-guessing everything, this is for you.
Self-doubt often starts in places where your voice wasn’t heard or your feelings weren’t valued. But you’re allowed to come home to yourself now.

Some relationships don’t end with a fight—some just fade when you grow.
It’s confusing and painful when people who once felt like home no longer feel like a fit.
This week’s post explores what it means to outgrow safe relationships, how to navigate the grief of it, and why it’s not a betrayal to choose peace over proximity.

Feeling guilty doesn’t mean you did something wrong.
It often just means you care—about others, about doing the right thing, about being a good person.
But when you’ve been taught to prioritize others at your own expense, even healthy choices can feel wrong.
This week’s post explores the kind of guilt that shows up when you start honoring yourself—and why it’s actually a sign of growth, not failure.

If “yes” slips out of your mouth before you even think it through, you’re not alone. Saying no can feel uncomfortable—especially if you’re used to equating kindness with self-sacrifice. This post explores why it’s so hard to say no, how that ties into guilt and fear, and what it means to set limits without over-explaining. You don’t have to justify your no. You just have to trust that your needs matter, too.

When everything feels like too much and even the smallest thing could send you over the edge, you might be in emotional overload. It’s not about being dramatic—it’s your nervous system saying, this is too much. This post breaks down what emotional overload really looks like, why it happens, and how to ground yourself when it hits. If you’ve been holding too much for too long, this one’s for you.

Let’s be real—setting boundaries can feel really uncomfortable. For a lot of us, even just thinking about saying “no” or asking for space brings up guilt, awkwardness, or a fear that we’re being rude. So if you’ve ever thought, “I know I need better boundaries, but I don’t want to come off like a jerk,” you’re not alone.

Anxiety is more than just worry—it’s a full-body, full-mind experience that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, restless, and exhausted. It shows up in racing thoughts, chest tightness, irritability, and avoidance—not because you don’t care, but because it all feels too much. In this post, we unpack what anxiety really feels like, why it’s not just “being dramatic,” and how you can begin to manage it with real tools and self-compassion.

If you’ve been calling yourself lazy lately, pause. What you’re feeling might not be laziness—it might be burnout. And that’s not a flaw; it’s a signal. Burnout can look like exhaustion, disconnection, or just going through the motions. This post dives into what burnout really is, why it gets mislabeled, and how to start healing by giving yourself more compassion, not more pressure.

Welcome to Uplift, a space for real talk about mental health. I’m Jaymi, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Vertical Healing. This blog is where I share grounded insights, practical tools, and compassionate reflections on everything from anxiety and burnout to boundaries and self-worth. If you’re craving honest conversations and support for your emotional journey, you’re in the right place.