In Search of the ‘Nature Cure’
We are in what seems to be a time of unprecedented stress, which has produced a crisis in our psychological health and wellbeing. In response, we are encouraged to fix…
Autism Assessments and me
In her late 20s, Mayanne Soret decided it was time to put her suspicions to rest and phoned her GP for an autism test. But during the year-long diagnostic process,…
Music and Mental Health: Victorian Asylum Treatments and Modern Social Prescribing
Even the Victorians knew the powerful effect music has on mental health. By Dr. Rosemary GoldingSenior Lecturer in MusicThe Open University Introduction Music has a powerful effect on the listener. It is linked to better mental health, and it…
How Exercise Keeps Your Brain Healthy and Protects It Against Depression and Anxiety
Many doctors believe that exercise is the closest thing to a miracle drug that modern medicine has in its arsenal. Your brain actually benefits, too. By Dr. Arash JavanbakhtAssociate Professor of PsychiatryWayne State University Introduction As with many…
How Trauma Affects the Body and Mind
The last few years have seen growing encouragement for victims of manipulation, violence and harassment to speak out and turn their backs on self-blame and shame. By BidishaBroadcaster, film-maker and…
Depression Isn’t Just Sadness – It’s Often A Loss Of Pleasure
‘Anhedonia’ affects up to 75% of people with depression. By Dr. Ciara McCabeProfessor of Neuroscience, Psychopharmacology and Mental HealthUniversity of Reading Introduction It’s often thought that if someone is depressed, they will feel sad…
Living With Chronic Illness: Why Some Cope And Others Don’t
What helps some people diagnosed with cancer, heart disease or diabetes stay relatively happy and healthy, while others are devastated? Psychologist Vicki Helgeson explains the traits and mindsets that can make…
How Depression Ruined my Relationship with Sleep
Clinical depression can result in a number of coping strategies, one of them being sleep dependence. By Lauren GeeWriter and researcher Ngadi SmartArtist Introduction Sleep feels a strange thing to…
Surviving Grief when Discussing Death is off Limits
When Iqra Choudhry’s dad died, she lost her words. Overwhelmed with grief, she realised how unable and unwilling we often are to discuss death. Here, Iqra explains how finding a…
How to Process Our Collective Grief
By Gabes TorresPsychotherapist, organizer, and artist Many of us are familiar with Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—a call to move forward in life while…
