Nine Inch Nails’ The Downward Spiral is more than an industrial rock classic; it’s a brutally honest journey through the three great fears of humanity: fear of our own feelings, fear of closeness, and fear of ourselves. Each track is a window into the defences we build, the critical voice that controls us, and the loneliness that follows. But it doesn’t end in despair; it ends in possibility. Therapy follows the same path: facing the spiral, not avoiding it, and finding hope in the very place we fear most, our pain.

Therapy isn’t just about solving problems. It’s about discovering how much capacity you have to sit with something painful, feel it fully, and resist the urge to avoid or numb yourself. That capacity changes everything: your relationships, your choices, your sense of self.

Most people come to therapy thinking it’s about fixing symptoms. Anxiety. Depression. Relationship struggles. But under the surface, therapy is asking a far more important question…

When you think about your emotional defences, what comes to mind? Many of us imagine walls, shields, or barriers – but here's something fascinating: your defence mechanisms are actually clever ways your mind handles difficult feelings! Think of them as your emotional immune system, automatically protecting you from psychological discomfort.

We all have these defences, and they're completely normal. In fact, they're pretty ingenious when you think about it. Maybe you crack jokes when things get too serious, throw yourself into work when you're hurting, or find yourself being extra nice to someone who's upset you. These aren't character flaws – they're sophisticated strategies your mind developed to help you feel safer with challenging emotions…

Many of us are terrified of our own feelings, relationships, and even ourselves. Emotional avoidance is one of the biggest ways this fear shows up. But not all avoidance is the same. One comes from old wounds—childhood environments where emotions were shut down or punished. The other hides behind toxic positivity or manipulation. Both cut us off from connection, but for different reasons. If this feels familiar, therapy is a place to finally face these fears, instead of endlessly running from them.