The hottest Mental health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

The Radical Practice of Body Acceptance

Are You Okay? • 1298 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Accepting your body doesn't necessarily mean you have to love it. It's about embracing and caring for your body as it is now, focusing on respect and care rather than appearance or societal standards.
  2. Body neutrality is a journey, not a fixed destination. It requires rejecting unrealistic beauty standards and embracing acceptance of your present self without harsh judgment.
  3. Practicing body acceptance involves being mindful of self-talk, dressing for comfort and confidence, using non-judgmental language about food, avoiding discriminatory speech about body size, and treating your body with kindness and respect.

#196: What else is there?

Maybe Baby • 2845 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Cleaning can be a way to cope with feelings of anger and frustration. Taking action, like organizing your space, can help you feel more in control.
  2. Being part of a community can help reduce feelings of isolation. Simple interactions, like greeting neighbors or attending local events, can bring joy and connection.
  3. Leaving your comfort zone is important for personal growth. Taking small steps to engage with the world outside can lead to better mental health and a sense of belonging.

Learning to give it 85%

The Shift With Sam Baker • 1637 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. It's important to realize that giving 100% all the time may not be sustainable or healthy in the long run. Aim for 85% effort to prevent burnout.
  2. Society's expectations of always giving 100% can lead to negative consequences on one's well-being, especially when not reciprocated by employers.
  3. Taking breaks, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care by working at 85% capacity can actually lead to improved productivity and overall well-being.

New Year housekeeping and mental bric-a-brac

Disaffected Newsletter • 1019 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Mental health
  1. Communication is key when you're having issues. If you don't tell someone exactly what the problem is, they might not be able to help you.
  2. Things can go wrong with automated systems, like emails ending up in spam folders. Always check there if you’re not getting messages.
  3. Personal growth can happen when you re-evaluate your past and beliefs. Sometimes, realizing things weren't what you thought can lead to big changes in how you see the world.
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A trick to dissolve social anxiety: close your eyes

Defender’s corner • 339 implied HN points • 09 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Closing your eyes in the middle of a conversation can help dissolve social anxiety by allowing you to focus on your thoughts without distractions.
  2. Others may not notice you closing your eyes to manage social anxiety, even though it may feel weird to you.
  3. Using the technique of closing your eyes can help you form your thoughts clearly and navigate through moments of social anxiety effectively.

People desperately want to believe lockdown was for the greater good - even when the evidence of manipulation is clear.

The Free Mind • 1611 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. People want to believe lockdown was for the greater good, even when evidence of manipulation is clear.
  2. Cognitive dissonance can make us deny, minimize, or rationalize uncomfortable truths.
  3. Lockdown may have influenced how people perceived the severity of Covid risk, based on government actions.

Semaglutide Kind of Life

Freddie deBoer • 5662 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The author started taking a medication called Rybelsus due to metabolic problems caused by long-term use of psychiatric medications and physical limitations.
  2. The author's struggles with weight management, loss of control due to inability to lift weights, and the significant cost of medication highlight the challenges they face in trying to maintain their health.
  3. Regular monitoring and support from professionals are essential for the author's well-being, despite concerns about societal judgment around medication use.

NYT Ethicist’s Weight Stigma Problem

Weight and Healthcare • 1597 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The columnist's response perpetuated weight stigma by disregarding boundaries and making assumptions about health based on weight.
  2. It's essential to respect others' boundaries, especially regarding personal matters like weight and health.
  3. Approaching conversations about weight and health should prioritize well-being, avoiding judgment, and listening to the individual.

The Year The Phone-Based Childhood Began To Reverse

After Babel • 2302 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Many believe that 2012 marked the start of a mental health crisis for young people, but 2024 might be when it starts to improve. There is a shift in awareness about the negative effects of smartphones and social media on kids.
  2. The problems children face today include being overprotected in real life while not being protected enough online. This has led to a deep concern for young people's mental health and has sparked conversations about how to fix it.
  3. It's important for kids to have opportunities for risk and independence while playing. Allowing them some freedom can actually make them safer and help prevent potential mental health issues.

35

Erik Torenberg's Thoughts • 1848 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Take responsibility for your actions and choices. Instead of blaming others or circumstances, focus on how you can respond and change going forward.
  2. Develop an abundance mindset by wanting others to succeed. When you help others, it creates a positive cycle that often leads to you benefiting too.
  3. It's never too late to change or start something new. Every day is a chance to make improvements in your life and relationships.

I’m not self-optimizing anymore

Men Yell at Me • 705 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Everyone seems to be focused on self-improvement and beauty, but it's overwhelming. It can make you want to give up and embrace bad habits instead.
  2. Marketing around beauty and wellness often puts pressure on women, making them feel they need to constantly change to be accepted. This adds unnecessary stress and financial burden.
  3. The push for perfection in appearance doesn't protect women from prejudice or challenges in life. It's important to recognize that superficial changes won’t fix deeper societal issues.

E. Jean Caroll’s Nasty Little Game – the Animus of the Childless, Family-less Boomer.

Welcome to Absurdistan • 1572 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The pursuit of wealth, power, and fame can lead some individuals into harmful and dangerous situations.
  2. The book 'Feminism Against Progress' explores the challenges faced by those who try to defy nature in pursuits like career success and family-building.
  3. Gen Z is showing a trend of rejecting societal norms around sex, birth control, and identity, signaling a shift in values.

the privatization of stress

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank • 884 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The privatization of stress theory highlights how mental wellness is viewed as an individual issue rather than a societal one.
  2. The cycle of stress privatization traps individuals in jobs that make them miserable, perpetuating a harmful system.
  3. Individualized causes and cures for stress fail to address the systemic issues and lack of public mental health support.

I've always relied on the kindness of strangers

Disaffected Newsletter • 1418 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Many people who experienced emotional abuse as children crave for their feelings to be understood and validated by others. They want someone to 'get' their pain, even if just for a moment.
  2. It's hard for others to truly feel what we feel, and we shouldn't rely on that to explain our experiences. Understanding can happen without sharing the exact emotions.
  3. Adults who were hurt as kids often seek comfort from others, since they didn't receive the emotional support they needed as children. It’s important to find a way to cope with that disappointment on our own.

Autism diagnoses are rising, yes, but autism, probably not

Just Emil Kirkegaard Things • 923 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔬 Science Mental health
  1. Autism diagnoses are increasing due to more liberal diagnostic criteria and shifts in categorization.
  2. There is a trend of decreasing thresholds for autism diagnoses, including reclassifying individuals previously diagnosed with other conditions.
  3. The prevalence of autism is influenced by genetic factors, and options for reducing autism risk may raise ethical questions.

Sons of Borderline mothers

Disaffected Newsletter • 1258 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Many men who grew up with borderline mothers experience emotional struggles and trauma. Their pain is often misunderstood because society doesn't talk about these issues much.
  2. Growing up in a chaotic or unsafe environment can lead to deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and anger in adulthood. Men may feel stuck or frustrated when they see others succeed in family life.
  3. It's common for men from these backgrounds to feel alone and not understood. Sharing these experiences can help break the silence and offer support to those who relate.

How do you know when to give up?

BAD AT KEEPING SECRETS • 1533 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Knowing when to give up can be a difficult decision, even when you love what you're doing.
  2. The pandemic has brought forth challenges of disconnection and lack of control, leading to uncertainty about the future.
  3. Around 40% of our happiness is theoretically within our control, so focus on doing your best amidst uncertainties.

Experiences Quitting Twitter

Something to Consider • 99 implied HN points • 22 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Quitting Twitter can be easier than you think. After a short period of craving, you might find more freedom and productivity.
  2. Removing social media entirely might be more effective than just cutting back. It's like going on a strict diet; all or nothing might work better for habits you want to change.
  3. After cutting out Twitter, you might feel an initial sense of anxiety but it can quickly turn into a sense of relief and focus, helping you pursue more meaningful activities.

Psychology’s Greatest Misses (Part 2/3)

Living Fossils • 28 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🔬 Science Mental health
  1. Many popular psychology claims are wrong or overstated — examples include learning-style teaching, what reaction-time implicit-bias tests prove, body-based trauma cures, and facilitated communication; believing these myths wastes time and can cause real harm.
  2. Some findings are solid but limited — the Big Five reliably describes personality differences but it describes patterns rather than explains causes and only modestly predicts specific behavior.
  3. Bad ideas spread because incentives and human storytelling favor novel, simple, or emotionally satisfying claims; novelty and neat villains travel faster than careful, boring truth, though better information tools may help correct that.

Surviving Techno-Dystopia

Mental Hellth • 1513 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Malcolm Harris highlights the disconnect between Silicon Valley's success and the mental health struggles in Palo Alto.
  2. The scapegoating of social media for mental health issues may not address the root problems of techno-depression.
  3. There is hope in history and in people's ability to fight back against the challenges of a techno-dystopia.

Have insurance? Good luck finding an in-network mental health professional.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 659 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. Finding an in-network mental health professional is really hard for people with insurance. Many providers are not actually accepting new patients or have left the network, making it feel like a waste of time for those seeking help.
  2. Even with insurance, many patients face high out-of-pocket costs. The average cost for therapy sessions can be over $174, creating a barrier for those who need mental health care.
  3. Insurance companies often make it tough to get claims approved by imposing complicated processes. This frustrates providers and leaves patients without the care they deserve.

The Recovering Academic in 2023

The Recovering Academic • 970 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The author shares their journey of leaving academia and dealing with grief, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and community in the recovery process.
  2. The plan for 2024 includes more thought pieces on higher education, collaboration to build community, original memoir and poetry sharing, and interviews to explore interesting life stories.
  3. Despite challenges, the author looks forward with anticipation, focusing on personal growth, gardening, and embracing individuality in their writing journey.

Complaining Is The Mind Killer

Investing 101 • 142 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Complaining can be harmful to your mind and can lead to stress and anxiety. It's important to focus on positive thoughts instead.
  2. Preparing for the worst while expecting the best can help rewire your brain. Facing problems with a positive attitude allows you to find solutions instead of dwelling on negatives.
  3. You are both the doer and the critic in your life. Instead of letting the critic's negativity take over, focus on your achievements and move forward positively.

Tell Me Something Good 

My Sweet Dumb Brain • 1493 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Creating a nightly routine of sharing something good can help rewire your brain to focus on the positive.
  2. Even in challenging times, finding and sharing a bright moment before bed can bring joy and connection.
  3. Prioritizing moments of positivity with loved ones can offer respite from the overwhelming negativity of the world.

Long Covid Can Be Both Psychosomatic And Real

Singal-Minded • 607 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. Long Covid can be both a real illness and influenced by the mind. This means some people might feel real symptoms even if there isn't a clear medical cause.
  2. A lot of people with Long Covid were healthy before getting sick, and some symptoms are very common and vague. This makes it tough to pinpoint exactly what Long Covid is.
  3. Understanding Long Covid requires both medical knowledge and attention to the patient's experiences. It shows the need for a balance between science and understanding individual stories.

When Left to My Own Devices

My Sweet Dumb Brain • 1474 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Having a structured routine can help maintain sanity and organization in daily life.
  2. Smartphones are designed to keep us engaged and seeking dopamine hits, leading to unsatisfactory experiences.
  3. Balancing screen time and real-life connections is a constant struggle in the digital age.

unself yourself

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank • 786 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Unselfing is about losing our egos and reconnecting with the nourishing aspects of the world.
  2. Approaching collective problems from an individualistic perspective can lead to paralysis; collective action is more effective and fulfilling.
  3. Technology, like social media, can help us stay connected and mobilize for social change amidst challenging times.

If You Didn't Comply During COVID You're a Psychopath

Break Free with Karen Hunt • 1454 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Psychologists can label non-compliance during COVID as psychopathy, justifying 'fixing' individuals as they see fit.
  2. The power dynamics post-COVID have allowed for the manipulation and control of citizens, using psychology as a weapon.
  3. Psychiatry and psychology have a history of coercion, drugging, and inhumane treatments towards those deemed non-compliant or ill.