Care for Albania

10/05/2026

🌊 When life changes, our instinct is often to hold on tighter.
A new city. A new career. A new stage of life. A heartbreak. An unexpected ending.
Change can leave us feeling anxious because we naturally crave certainty and familiarity. But what if we thought about life the way we think about the ocean?
Every wave rises, changes, and eventually crashes—but the ocean remains.
In our latest blog, “The Wave and the Ocean: Dealing with the Immutability of Life,” Federico Tamborrel explores how this metaphor can help us understand anxiety around major life changes and the fear of the unknown.
Sometimes, moving forward isn’t about eliminating uncertainty. It’s about learning that we can change with our circumstances without losing ourselves in the process.
💭 Just because the wave has crashed doesn’t mean the ocean has disappeared. And just because your circumstances have changed doesn’t mean you have disappeared, either.
Read the full blog to explore a different perspective on change, uncertainty, and learning to flow with life rather than holding tightly to what has already changed.

https://www.healthwellnesscenter.org/blog/the-wave-and-the-ocean-dealing-with-the-immutability-of-life

Learn how major life changes can trigger anxiety and uncertainty, and discover how embracing change and letting go of permanence can help you navigate transitions with greater perspective, flexibility, and emotional resilience.

10/01/2026

Are you breathing your stress?
When stress takes over, our breathing often becomes shallow without us even realizing it. Instead of taking full, restorative breaths, we may begin breathing primarily through the chest, keeping the body in a heightened state of tension.
In this video, Dr. Sonila Sejdaras explains the powerful connection between breathing, stress, the mind, and the body and why something as simple as slowing down and paying attention to your breath can help your body begin to settle.
Our minds and bodies are deeply connected. When we live in a constant state of stress, our bodies feel it too.
🌿 Pause for a moment.
Breathe in slowly.
Breathe out fully.
And give your body permission to slow down.
Sometimes, caring for your mental health begins with something as fundamental as taking a breath. ❤️

09/27/2026

“What AI will not have is a soul.” ❤️
As technology continues to evolve, Dr. Sonila Sejdaras shares a reminder about something deeply human that cannot be replaced: the power of the heart, genuine connection, and our capacity to care for one another.
Not every meaningful interaction needs to be transactional. Sometimes we choose to show up simply because something matters, because another person needs to be heard, because a conversation can create connection, or because we believe it can contribute to healing.
Negativity may capture attention quickly. But compassion, kindness, and authentic human connection can create something much more lasting.
When we nurture our hearts and lead with genuine intention, we have an opportunity to reach people who may be searching for healing but don't yet know where to begin.
Technology will continue to change the world. Let’s make sure we continue nurturing what makes us human. 🙏❤️

09/22/2026

Success can look calm on the outside while anxiety is working overtime on the inside.

You may be meeting deadlines, solving problems, supporting your team, and continuing to achieve, while internally you’re replaying conversations, worrying about mistakes, thinking about what comes next, or feeling guilty whenever you slow down.

This experience is often described as high-functioning anxiety. Because achievement can mask distress, it isn’t always easy to recognize.

You might notice:

✨ Constantly thinking about the next task or potential problem
✨ Difficulty relaxing without feeling guilty
✨ Overpreparing, overchecking, or striving for perfection
✨ Replaying conversations and questioning yourself afterward
✨ Physical tension, racing thoughts, or difficulty sleeping
✨ Feeling exhausted but unable to truly switch off

One important reminder: the fact that you are functioning does not mean you aren’t struggling.

Ambition and dedication can be meaningful strengths. The question is whether you can step out of achievement mode and allow your mind and body to rest.

Our latest blog, “High-Functioning Anxiety: When You’re Successful but Constantly on Edge,” explores how anxiety can hide behind productivity, the cycle between anxiety and overworking, and practical steps toward creating a healthier relationship with achievement.

🌿 You don’t have to choose between success and well-being.

📖 Read the full blog: https://www.chicagopsych.org/blog/high-functioning-anxiety-when-youre-successful-but-constantly-on-edge

If anxiety is making it difficult to slow down, be present, or enjoy what you’ve worked so hard to achieve, professional support is available.

For a FREE phone consultation:
📞 872-529-1982
✉️ [email protected]

Discover how high-functioning anxiety can hide behind success, productivity, and perfectionism, and learn practical ways to manage worry, reduce stress, and create a healthier balance between achievement and well-being.

09/18/2026

❤️ A Heartfelt Thank You from Care for Albania

As we reflect on Hope on the Move: 5K Walk for Mental Health & Cancer, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible generosity and support of our community.

Every contribution helped make this initiative possible and supports Care for Albania’s mission of healing and empowering our community, raising awareness around mental health and cancer, and reminding individuals and families that they do not have to face difficult journeys alone.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to:

❤️ Bright Electric Inc.
❤️ Jana Radosavljevic
❤️ Anujan Mathialagan
❤️ Hasime Adili
❤️ Rezarta Melo
❤️ Elona Canaj
❤️ Thulasi Jegananthasivam
❤️ Valbona Gjini
❤️ Aafreen Shaikh
❤️ Gazmira Agako
❤️ Fiorela Pazolli
❤️ Lidia Spaho
❤️ Ammara Kaka
❤️ Magda Kreka
❤️ Katrin Zoga
❤️ Lillian Cutaj

Faleminderit! 🇦🇱❤️ Your generosity, compassion, and belief in our mission mean more than words can express.

From Chicago to Florida, Philadelphia to Toronto, we walked with one shared purpose: to support, to raise awareness, to break the stigma, and to remind those facing cancer that they are not alone.

To everyone who donated, walked, volunteered, sponsored, shared our message, or supported us from afar—thank you for moving hope forward with us.

Together we walked. Together we heal. Together we give hope. ❤️🎗️

09/18/2026

Some anxiety doesn’t begin with a single event. Sometimes, it begins much earlier. 🤍

Growing up in a home without consistent safety or structure can teach a child’s nervous system to stay alert to read the room, anticipate changes in mood, avoid conflict, or prepare for what might happen next.

Years later, those patterns may still appear in adulthood as:

• Difficulty relaxing, even when everything seems fine
• A need to control or plan for every possibility
• Overexplaining or over-apologizing
• Strong reactions to raised voices, silence, or unpredictability
• Anxiety in relationships and difficulty trusting that things are truly safe

These responses can make more sense when we understand where they began and what they once helped us manage.

Our latest blog, “When Anxiety Started Young: Growing Up Without Safety or Structure,” explores how early experiences can shape anxiety in adulthood and how therapy can help create new experiences of safety, consistency, and trust.

Healing doesn’t mean pretending the past didn’t shape you. It can mean gradually learning that you’re allowed to rest, feel safe, and build something different.

📖 Read the full blog: https://www.chicagopsych.org/blog/when-anxiety-started-young-growing-up-without-safety-or-structure

If you’re looking for professional support, contact us for a FREE phone consultation:

📞 872-529-1982
✉️ [email protected]

Explore how growing up without safety, consistency, or structure can contribute to anxiety in adulthood, and learn how therapy can help build trust, stability, and a greater sense of emotional safety.

09/17/2026

New beginnings can be exciting—but they can also bring anxiety, uncertainty, and a lot of “what ifs.” 🤍

Maybe it’s walking into a room full of strangers. Starting a new job or school. Moving to a new country. Beginning a new relationship. Healing after a breakup. Or simply stepping into a chapter of life you never expected.

Anxiety can show up as racing thoughts, sleepless nights, physical tension, persistent worry, or even panic. And sometimes, understanding why your mind and body are responding this way can be an important first step toward feeling more grounded.

In our latest blog, Brikena Gjylameti, M.Sc., explores:

✨ Generalized anxiety and how it can affect everyday life
✨ The difference between panic attacks and anxiety attacks
✨ Why major life transitions can trigger anxiety
✨ How therapy can provide support during seasons of change

One reminder we hope you carry with you: feeling anxious about a new beginning doesn’t necessarily mean you’re moving in the wrong direction. Change asks us to adapt—and adapting takes courage.

📖 Read the full article:

https://www.chicagopsych.org/blog/anxiety-new-beginnings-and-the-courage-it-takes-to-keep-goingnbsp

If anxiety is making it difficult to sleep, connect, or enjoy your everyday life, support is available.

📞 872-529-1982
✉️ [email protected]
FREE phone consultation

Learn how anxiety, panic attacks, and major life changes can affect your well-being, and discover how understanding your patterns and seeking support can help you navigate new beginnings with courage and confidence.

09/14/2026

Together we walked. Together we heal. Together we give hope. ❤️

What an incredible day for Care for Albania and our community.

From Chicago to Florida, Philadelphia to Toronto, Albanians came together for Hope on the Move: 5K Walk for Mental Health & Cancer with one shared purpose: to support, to raise awareness, to break the stigma, and to remind those facing cancer that they are not alone.

Every step represented someone—a patient, a survivor, a caregiver, a family member, or someone we carry in our hearts. 🎗️

To every participant, sponsor, donor, volunteer, and supporter who helped make this possible: Faleminderit! Your compassion and commitment continue to help us fulfill our mission of healing and empowering our community. 🇦🇱❤️

These moments are more than photographs. They are a reminder of what we can accomplish when a community moves together with hope.

Four locations. One community. One purpose. ❤️

09/14/2026

09/11/2026

Together we walk. Together we heal. ❤️

This Sunday, September 13, Care for Albania will come together for the fifth year to walk in support of individuals affected by cancer, their families, caregivers, and our community.

A cancer diagnosis is not only a medical diagnosis. It can be an overwhelming and traumatic life event that affects an entire family, bringing fear, anxiety, depression, financial stress, and changes in relationships and everyday life.

As Dr. Sonila Sejdaras shares in this message, “When one person is diagnosed with cancer, the entire system is diagnosed with them.”

No one should feel ashamed of the emotional impact of cancer. Fear, anxiety, grief, and uncertainty are not failures of character, they are human responses to an extraordinarily difficult experience.

Through Care for Albania, we want to continue breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and remind those navigating cancer, survivorship, caregiving, or loss that you do not have to walk this journey alone.

Please join us this Sunday and walk with us to show every individual and family facing cancer that their community stands beside them. ❤️

📅 Sunday, September 13 | 10 AM–1 PM CDT
📍 601 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

🎟️ Register for Hope on the Move – 5K Walk for Mental Health & Cancer

Together we walk. Together we heal. Together we give hope.