Every time I get an email or text notification from USCIS my heart drops, but most of the time it turns out to be a generic update or nothing important, so I’m wondering if others experience this same emotional roller coaster and whether it ever gets easier as the case goes on.

Yes, a lot of people go through that exact emotional swing and you’re definitely not alone. Those notifications train your brain to expect big news even when it’s usually just a generic update, so the stress response kicks in automatically. Most people say it doesn’t fully go away, but over time you do get a bit more numb to it and start waiting for the actual notice instead of reacting to every alert.