The hottest Mental health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Don't update too much on money-happiness correlations

inexactscience • 79 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
💰 Finance Mental health
  1. Money doesn't always equal happiness. Many studies show mixed results, suggesting other factors play a big role.
  2. People have different values around work and leisure. This means that income may not always reflect happiness for everyone.
  3. Surveys on money and happiness can be tricky. The way they ask questions may not capture the real relationship between income and how people feel.

How to Manage Health Anxiety

Are You Okay? • 1258 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Health anxiety can be exacerbated by external factors like trauma from the pandemic and current world events
  2. Normalize cognitive distortions of anxiety and seek medical advice to address health anxiety instead of turning to online sources like Dr. Google
  3. Recognize the impact of misinformation on health anxiety and learn to accept uncertainty while addressing anxiety directly through various strategies like mindfulness, exercise, therapy, and medication when necessary

Cosmic impostor syndrome

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 2627 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Meditation can make you happier and more relaxed, but the journey has ups and downs. You might go through weird phases where your self-esteem feels all mixed up.
  2. Cosmic impostor syndrome is when you realize you're not in full control of your life and self-esteem doesn't make sense anymore. It can feel awkward when you stop taking all the credit for your accomplishments.
  3. Praise can start to feel less personal and more like a comment on something outside of you, like the weather. Relationships that matter to you become the main source of self-affirmation.

Open Thread: What are your most helpful ideas for difficult times?

Everything Is Amazing • 1642 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Most people are generally good, and if they're not, it's often because they're scared. This helps us understand and forgive others better.
  2. It's important to focus on what you stand for instead of just what you oppose. This creates a positive environment for discussion and teamwork.
  3. When you feel anxious, try doing something physically active. It can help clear your mind and improve your mood.
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Child abuse and extremist politics

Disaffected Newsletter • 379 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Mental health
  1. There is a connection between having a difficult childhood and joining extremist groups. Many people in these groups have faced trauma early in life.
  2. The discussion includes personal stories from former members of groups like Antifa. Understanding their backgrounds can help us see why they joined these movements.
  3. Exploring these connections can lead to better support for those affected by childhood trauma. It's important to address these issues to prevent them from escalating.

Q & Answers

Freddie deBoer • 5352 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Engaging with opposing viewpoints can help refine ideas and perspectives.
  2. Art must uphold quality standards to effectively convey political messages.
  3. Personal apologies for past mistakes should not be incessantly repeated; it's essential to learn, make amends, and move forward.

Why I’ve Resisted Talking About Mental Health

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 25 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The phrase “mental health” is vague, but framing it as nervous system health highlights the underlying mechanism that explains how we feel and offers a practical way to act.
  2. People often avoid talking about mental health because of fear — being seen as weak, lacking formal qualifications, or worrying that vulnerability will feel embarrassing.
  3. Peak performance and mental struggle sit on the same nervous‑system spectrum, so talking about energy and regulation connects performance work to mental health, and sharing struggles can lead to support and clearer paths forward.

5 Questions with Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN

Weight and Healthcare • 599 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Christy Harrison is an anti-diet registered dietitian and journalist who aims to challenge diet culture and promote body acceptance through her work.
  2. She learned about weight-neutral care around 20 years ago but fully embraced it later on through experiences in recovery and training in eating disorders.
  3. Harrison applies weight-inclusive principles in her work across various platforms like books, podcasts, online courses, and speaking engagements, critiquing diet culture and promoting critical thinking about wellness.

Guest post: Goblins of Long Island

Disaffected Newsletter • 1618 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. The author describes strange encounters with people who have unconventional appearances, creating a sense of discomfort.
  2. They feel isolated in their reactions, as if no one else notices the oddity of their surroundings.
  3. There's a deep sense of cultural disconnection, leading the author to feel like they are in a dystopian reality.

Weekend of a Lifetime

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 32 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Community programs that start as personal recovery can naturally become service: simple, regular group movement and no-pressure social time give people a safe place to breathe, connect, and feel less alone.
  2. Framing struggles as "nervous system health" rather than clinical "mental health" can make the path forward clearer, because sleep, routine, exercise and community help settle the nervous system and build resilience.
  3. Real cultural change comes from people giving themselves to something bigger and from everyday rituals and honest conversation; a suicide-free future will be built one regulated nervous system and authentic connection at a time.

2024

The Friendly Neighbors • 687 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Dr. Emily Smith takes quiet time in January to plan for the year.
  2. She reflects on the previous year's personal growth and achievements.
  3. In 2024, Dr. Smith plans to reduce the frequency of her posts and add more paid content.

feel your feelings

Mind Mine • 1336 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. As adults, we tend to intellectualize our feelings instead of just feeling them, which can be detrimental.
  2. Emotions are not rational; it is important to acknowledge and address them genuinely.
  3. Feeling your feelings fully is the most mature and effective way to navigate through them.

Schools Need to Ban Smartphones

The Analog Family • 419 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🚌 Education Mental health
  1. Smartphones in schools are harmful to student focus and learning. When kids use their phones in class, it distracts them and lowers their grades.
  2. Banning phones can improve the school environment. Schools that already have strict phone rules report better student behavior and more meaningful social interactions.
  3. Parents and schools should work together on this issue. By supporting a ban on smartphones, families can help kids focus better and feel happier at school.

Living Evil: Blind Eyes And Little Support

Richard Lewis • 1336 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Mental health
  1. Evil Geniuses faced criticism for alleged lack of support for mental health of staff and players
  2. Former employees reported complaints regarding workplace conditions, bullying, and poor management decisions
  3. Organizational problems extended across different teams, showing a trend of neglecting mental health and well-being

Self-Help Tactics That Are Working For Me

Rough Diamonds • 62 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Guilt often comes from fear of other people's disapproval, not from some innate low self-worth. Using graded exposure—imagining or facing mild disapproval and practicing tolerance for praise—helps that fear burn out.
  2. Vivid positive visualization is practical motor planning: mentally rehearse difficult or important moments going well to boost confidence and beat procrastination.
  3. Stop waiting for a mythical God’s‑eye verdict; set reasonable first‑person standards and do honest self‑evaluations so you can measure progress and legitimately feel proud.

In The Fight Against Tyranny, Don't Let Your Happiness Depend On Big Wins

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2184 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Mental health
  1. It's important to find happiness outside of big victories. Relying on large wins can lead to disappointment and frustration.
  2. Your happiness can positively impact others. Allowing joy into your life can spread happiness to those around you.
  3. Cultivating happiness is a valuable skill. Learning to be happy can make you more effective in your efforts to make a difference.

Is it time to move on?

BAD AT KEEPING SECRETS • 727 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The author is contemplating whether they should move from a neighborhood with high levels of violence.
  2. The writer expresses their deep emotional attachment to their current home despite its dangerous location.
  3. The author shares a personal experience of gun violence near their home, sparking further consideration about whether to stay or move.

Embracing Bromance

Polymathic Being • 71 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Men’s loneliness is worsened by the loss of platonic male physical touch, and that lack of affectionate contact harms mental and physical health.
  2. Two main forces caused this shift: the sexualization of male touch linked to homosexuality and the integration of women into formerly male-only spaces, both of which made affectionate male touch feel risky and diminished men’s bonding opportunities.
  3. Non-sexual male touch has real bonding and health benefits, so we need cultural, inclusive ways to safely bring back affectionate platonic touch without reverting to exclusionary or toxic practices.

"Master of Change"

Range Widely • 1316 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The pace of change in human history has accelerated rapidly over the past few centuries.
  2. Dealing with change requires both ruggedness and flexibility.
  3. Expectations must be updated to match reality to maintain happiness and well-being.

A Critique Of “Mental and Emotional Health of Youth after 24 months of Gender-Affirming Medical Care Initiated with Pubertal Suppression”

Singal-Minded • 798 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. The study on gender-affirming medical care suggests that puberty blockers didn't improve or harm the mental health of the youth involved, indicating they were stable throughout the study.
  2. There were concerns about the study's methodology, including why certain outcomes weren’t reported and a significant drop in participants over the study period, which raises questions about the validity of the results.
  3. Researchers have changed their claims about the purpose and effectiveness of puberty blockers, leading to confusion about their intended use and the outcomes they produce.

How to Care For Your Body with Kindness & Respect

Are You Okay? • 978 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Body acceptance is the starting point for caring for your body - it allows you to be realistic and kind to yourself instead of idealistic and critical.
  2. Focus on nourishing foods, enjoyable movement, and rejecting perfectionism in order to care for your body with kindness and respect.
  3. Reduce social media consumption to improve mental health and avoid comparing yourself to idealized images.

Has My Social Media Addiction Sadly Caused Me To Pathetically Overuse Adverbs?

Singal-Minded • 623 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Social media can negatively affect mental health, making people more anxious and less focused. It's important to be aware of how it can influence daily life.
  2. Adverbs are often overused in writing, which can weaken the message. Effective writing should focus on strong nouns and verbs instead.
  3. Longform writing differs from social media posts because it requires more thought and pacing. Readers expect a gradual unfolding of ideas rather than quick, flashy statements.

Hand-Holding Explained

Bet On It • 166 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Asking directly to hold hands is clear, respectful, and consensual, and it stops days of anxious guessing by turning uncertainty into a simple yes or no.
  2. Hand-holding is an intimate but non‑sexual gesture that feels safe and gentle, making it a useful first step for people who are shy, healing, or anxious about dating.
  3. Many analytical or neurodivergent men need concrete, low‑pressure social tools like this to rebuild confidence and appear more grounded and likable in real human interactions.

The Ache

Babbling On • 1297 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The author reflects on the mixed emotions and struggles he faced after his father's unexpected death.
  2. The funeral on a Super Blue Moon is highlighted as a significant and emotional event.
  3. Memories and stories shared at the funeral display the author's complex relationship and deep love for his father.

Do blue-blocking glasses improve sleep?

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 718 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Blue-blocking glasses may help increase melatonin levels, especially when you're exposed to bright light at night. This means they could help you feel sleepier.
  2. The evidence on whether blue-blocking glasses improve overall sleep quality is mixed. Some studies show a small improvement, while others show little or no effect.
  3. Instead of wearing blue-blocking glasses, it might be better to reduce blue light in your environment, like using dim, warm-colored lights at night.

A Pivotal Year

Of Boys and Men • 99 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Mental health
  1. Issues affecting boys and men went mainstream in 2025, moving beyond talk to real public and policy attention, especially at the state level.
  2. The American Institute for Boys and Men grew fast, doubling its staff and launching major programs on men in higher education, online life, and K–12, plus new fellows and initiatives.
  3. Several governors rolled out targeted policies—more male teachers, apprenticeships, re‑enrolment drives, mentorship and a Male Service Challenge—and national conversations expanded on male loneliness, HBCU enrollment, caring jobs, sports betting, fatherhood, and rites of passage.

The Night Watch.

Breaking the News • 1988 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Some people prefer to keep their experiences private, while others are more open about what they're going through. Everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to sharing personal experiences.
  2. Dealing with the aftereffects of COVID-19 can be tough, especially when it comes to sleep issues. It's important to learn from each other's experiences to navigate these challenges.
  3. There are many strategies for improving sleep, and trying different methods might help. Everyone's journey to better sleep can be different, so sharing what works can be really helpful.

Q&A: helping a loved one with anxiety; Ozempic hair loss; lung cancer screening; & heart rate variability

Are You Okay? • 439 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. During the pandemic, many experienced heightened anxiety, including fears around COVID, leading to mental health challenges that may persist post-pandemic. It's crucial to validate experiences, offer empathy, and seek professional help to address anxiety disorders effectively.
  2. Examine potential side effects of medications like GLP1 agonists such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and others, which may cause mild hair loss. Healthcare providers should consider these effects when prescribing and monitor patients accordingly.
  3. The approach to addressing health-related anxiety is multi-faceted, involving psychotherapy, medication, trauma therapy, or even exposure to the feared illness under professional guidance, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Confessions of a Highly Insensitive Person

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 855 implied HN points • 29 May 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Many people feel special because they have mental health labels, but this can lead to misunderstandings about what they're really experiencing. It's important to recognize that not all feelings need a diagnosis.
  2. Some people believe expressing struggles is good, but it can be hard to balance that with the need to stay grounded. Everyone's journey with their own issues is different and valid.
  3. Criticism often comes when discussing mental health and how it's talked about in society. Engaging in these conversations can stir strong reactions from others, highlighting a divide in perspectives.

Abjection Doesn't Scale

Sucks to Suck • 1257 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Support scenes often dilute and struggle to represent the true complexities of the issues they're meant to address.
  2. In large groups or communities, the dynamics tend to favor normalcy and popularity, leaving outliers feeling excluded.
  3. Personal acceptance and understanding of one's flaws can be more valuable than seeking validation or belonging in external groups.