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.
What If Death Was Not The End But A New Beginning
The Hall of Mirrors concept offers a compelling way to think about life, death, and consciousness within a multiverse framework. Rather than viewing the universe as singular and final, this perspective suggests the existence of multiple parallel universes emerging from identical initial conditions. At the moment of divergence, these universes are indistinguishable, yet over time they evolve independently due to minute quantum-level variations. Each universe becomes a near-reflection of the others, similar, but never exactly the same. Within this framework, death need not be understood as an absolute ending, but as a transition between states of existence.
Erasing Memory: The Possibilities and Challenges of Selective Forgetting
Managing distressing memories through existing therapies, mindfulness, and support networks remains the most accessible path. As research continues, the dream of selectively forgetting the bad while keeping the good may one day become a reality. Until then, moments of natural relief, like forgetting an OCD trigger and finding the anxiety has passed, remind us of the brain’s capacity to heal itself.
Eating Disorders and Mental Health
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that involve a persistent disturbance in eating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. They are often deeply intertwined with mental health issues and can significantly impact physical health, emotional well-being, and quality of life.
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.
Struggling Mental Health After Trauma
Trauma can change a person’s world in an instant. Whether it stems from domestic violence, childhood abuse, loss, betrayal, or a sudden life-altering event, trauma leaves emotional imprints that can last a lifetime. It doesn’t simply fade away with time, instead, it lingers in the subconscious, replaying through intrusive memories, flashbacks, or emotional triggers that can feel impossible to escape.
Understanding OCD: Breaking Down Misconceptions
People with OCD don’t “choose” their thoughts or compulsions. Telling someone to “just get over it” is dismissive, harmful, and perpetuates ableist attitudes. If someone has lived with OCD for decades and tried all known interventions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), medication, counseling, and even alternative therapies such as hypnosis, it is unjust to boil their suffering down to a fad.
Understanding Invisible Disabilities & Ableist Attitudes
Invisible disabilities deserve recognition, understanding, and respect. Ableist attitudes rooted in ignorance and dismissiveness create barriers that can be just as disabling as the condition itself. Instead of questioning someone’s reality or minimising their struggles, we should listen, believe, and support. The lived experiences of those with invisible disabilities, like the editor who has battled OCD for decades, remind us that what cannot be seen can still have profound impact. True inclusivity means dismantling ableism and embracing empathy.