When Depression Meets Poverty: The Silent Collapse No One Sees
What depression really feels like when money runs out: the hidden impact of sanctions, unemployment, and trauma, plus practical steps to help people slowly rebuild hope.
Taking Things for Granted: Lessons I Learned Too Late
A personal reflection on taking things for granted, regret, grief, empty nest syndrome, and the connection to mental health—highlighting how loss teaches us the value of people and moments.
When Stigma Comes From Home: My Experience With Mental-Health Judgement
A first-person account of mental-health stigma within a traditional rural Polish family: why it’s hard to explain mental health to older generations, how judgement impacts wellbeing, and what the statistics say about stigma and discrimination in Poland.
Loneliness at Christmas: You Are Not Alone
Loneliness at Christmas can affect anyone. This heartfelt first-person article reminds readers they are not alone, explores depression and seasonal sadness, and offers practical ways to cope, learn new skills, and find hope as the New Year approaches.
How AI Can Help A Person Overcome Sadness
How AI chat is helping people cope with loneliness, sadness, and isolation at Christmas. Exploring trauma, loss, poverty, and ways to gently reconnect with the festive spirit. AI is not a replacement of human interaction, but more so a useful tool.
Understanding the Statistics of Depression At Christmas
The meaning of Christmas extends beyond the festive decorations and exchanging of gifts. It is a time when people come together to celebrate the spirit of love, compassion, and goodwill.
Understanding the Window of Tolerance in Mental Health
Intrusive thoughts and the window of tolerance are closely linked through the lens of stress and emotional regulation. When you are within your window of tolerance, intrusive thoughts are easier to manage and less likely to overwhelm you. Conversely, being outside this zone can amplify their intensity, making emotional regulation strategies essential.
Facing Inner Demons: Why Trauma Survivors Turn to Drugs and Alcohol
Trauma leaves lasting wounds, but numbing pain with drugs and alcohol only deepens the suffering. Although self-medication may seem like an escape, it damages the body and creates new chains of dependency. The path to healing is not easy, but it is possible. With therapy, support, and healthier coping mechanisms, people can face their fears, overcome their inner demons, and take back control of their lives.
Overprescribing Anti-Depressants: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Antidepressant use has soared over the past two decades, with the UK alone seeing a doubling in prescriptions since 2008. While medication can be life-changing for some, concerns are growing around its overprescription, especially for patients who may not need long-term pharmacological treatment. From the reluctance of GPs to offer fast-acting relief to the alarming trend of children being medicated, it’s time to ask, are we medicating emotion at the expense of wellbeing?
Can You Forget Trauma?
Trauma is the emotional and psychological response to an event—or series of events—that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. It’s not just about what happened, but how it made you feel: unsafe, powerless, or deeply shaken. Trauma can stem from a one-time incident like an accident or loss, or from long-term experiences like abuse, neglect, or living in constant fear.