The hottest Mental health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Stories we tell ourselves

Sunday Letters • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Personal Growth Mental health Self-reflection Storytelling ADHD Awareness
  1. Understanding your personal challenges can change how you see yourself. Recognizing a condition like ADHD or Tourette's allows you to reframe your story from weakness to strength.
  2. Everyone has stories about their abilities that may not be true. Instead of saying "I'm bad at math," think of what you're really good at instead.
  3. The way we tell ourselves stories shapes our lives. By being aware of our thoughts, we can rewrite our narratives to be kinder and more helpful.

Tools for Life™️

box. • 399 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Stress management Emotional Support
  1. Taking care of your body with exercise, sleep, and good food can really help you manage your feelings and energy levels. It's important to make time for these basic needs.
  2. Having supportive friends or accountability buddies can make a huge difference when you're feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Teaming up with others helps you feel less alone.
  3. Doing things that bring you pure joy, without any pressure to be productive, can help reduce anxiety and stress. It's okay to take breaks and have fun just for the sake of it.

The darker side of being a doctor

drericlevi’s Substack • 47 HN points • 17 Jun 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Work-life balance Burnout Medical Industry
  1. Loss of control over work schedules and healthcare decisions can lead to despair and overwhelm for doctors.
  2. Lack of support from the healthcare system and difficulty finding personal support can contribute to the challenges doctors face.
  3. Reduction in the meaningful clinical engagement with patients due to administrative pressures and industry demands can be a major source of distress for doctors.

BMI Limits - Healthcare Held Hostage For A Weight Loss Ransom - Part 1

Weight and Healthcare • 559 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare Weight Stigma Medical Procedures Mental health
  1. BMI limits in healthcare deny procedures to individuals based on their weight, attributing higher risks to higher weight individuals.
  2. These BMI limits perpetuate weight stigma by focusing on weight-based denials instead of improving care for higher-weight individuals.
  3. Patients can face denials of needed surgeries until they reach a certain weight, leading to dangerous delays and potentially fatal consequences.
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A gratitude zine

Austin Kleon • 2358 implied HN points • 23 Nov 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Gratitude Self-care Mindfulness Personal Development
  1. Gratitude can take time and practice to feel, especially during tough times. It's important to actively work on being thankful.
  2. Keeping a gratitude diary can help by starting each sentence with 'I have...' to focus on positive experiences in life.
  3. Thinking about gratitude as a gift rather than a debt fosters healthier relationships and helps us appreciate what we have.

One question to know if you’re truly independent

Kenny’s Sub • 219 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
💼 Business Freelancing Income Streams Client Relations Mental health
  1. Being able to walk away from a situation means you have leverage and control. It shows you can handle consequences and find alternatives.
  2. If you're not confident about walking away from something, you might want to explore other income options. This way, you create choices for yourself.
  3. Sometimes you might have to accept a lack of leverage and deal with situations you can't change. It's okay to move on and not let it affect your peace of mind.

When You Finally See Yourself Clearly

The Reclamation Era • 159 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Neurodiversity Self-care Personal Development Parenting
  1. Understanding ADHD can lead to a big sense of clarity about oneself. Realizing how it affects life helps to make sense of past struggles.
  2. Being open about one's experiences with ADHD can feel overwhelming but is often met with appreciation from others. It’s important to share personal truths without worrying too much about others' opinions.
  3. Learning to embrace neurodiversity helps create more self-compassion. With better tools and understanding, it’s easier to live life fully and acknowledge one's unique thought patterns.

Crushing It

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 407 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Love Relationships Mental health Self-Improvement Emotions
  1. Developing feelings for fictional characters in video games or simulations is possible, showcasing the power of romantic attraction.
  2. Having a crush can result in a unique state of mind, where tasks become easier and energy levels heighten, presenting an opportunity to harness that energy for personal development.
  3. Crushes, even if unsatisfiable or deemed inappropriate, can still offer energy that can be redirected positively, such as using the crush on a boss to excel at work.

Defaults: how to make them work for you

Tranquil Thoughts • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Personal Growth Mental health Habit formation Self-Improvement Lifestyle changes
  1. Defaults are the choices you make without really thinking, like how you introduce yourself or what you watch on TV. It's good to be aware of them.
  2. Choosing the right defaults can save you time and help you build better habits. For example, listening to podcasts can improve your language skills.
  3. You have the power to change your defaults so they work for you instead of against you. Think about how to make your daily choices support your goals.

The Frontier Psychiatrists Appear on The Soft White Underbelly

The Frontier Psychiatrists • 196 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapies Interview Personal Experience
  1. The Frontier Psychiatrists were featured on The Soft White Underbelly with discussions on novel depression treatments.
  2. The interview quickly garnered over 6,000 views within a few hours of being launched on a Sunday.
  3. Topics covered in the interview included accelerated TMS, fMRI guided neuromodulation, bipolar depression, and more.

Intentionally spiraling out

Austin Kleon • 1958 implied HN points • 25 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Design Media Mental health
  1. A simple notebook exercise can help reduce anxiety and make you feel a bit better. It's a small step to calm the mind.
  2. Listening to Mel Brooks' memoir is not just funny; it feels sweet and comforting. It's like connecting with family through his stories.
  3. Pre-ordering the special edition of 'Steal Like an Artist' is a great way to support and celebrate its 10th anniversary, plus you'll get a signed copy!

Straightlining OCD

Living Fossils • 15 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Evolutionary biology Psychology Cognitive Science Behavioral Health
  1. Humans have evolved in messy environments, but our modern spaces are often too neat and straight. This neatness can create feelings of dissatisfaction and perfectionism, as humans are always seeking better conditions.
  2. OCD might be more common today because our environments exaggerate feelings of dissatisfaction. We notice minor imperfections more easily in our structured lives than our ancestors did in their chaotic natural settings.
  3. People today are better equipped to try and fix their surroundings, which can lead to a cycle of anxiety and compulsive behavior. Our ability to improve things can sometimes make us feel worse when everything doesn't match our ideals.

Life is good

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 54 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Physical health Personal Growth Lifestyle Wellness
  1. Following your passion can lead to a fulfilling career. It's important to pursue what makes you happy, like I did after rugby.
  2. Life has ups and downs, but it's vital to celebrate the good moments. I've had challenges, but right now, I'm really enjoying life.
  3. Health is so important, and getting regular check-ups can save lives. A friend's quick skin check led to a life-saving discovery.

Why Do You Work?

David Spinks' Newsletter • 44 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
💼 Business Work Culture Career growth Entrepreneurship Mental health Personal Development
  1. Success can feel like a mountain made of layers, built from our experiences and beliefs about love and acceptance. Many people work hard because they feel they have to earn their worth.
  2. Realizing that you are already enough can be a powerful shift. It allows you to stop chasing external validation and allows a more authentic relationship with work.
  3. Working should bring you life and joy, not just security or status. It's important to focus on what truly fulfills you and aligns with your values.

Story Thirty-Seven

Stories From The Rail • 219 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Parenting Trauma Personal Growth
  1. Eulogies can be a way to cope with OCD and suicidal ideation, helping in the battle with intrusive thoughts and fears.
  2. Mental health challenges like OCD and suicidal ideation are medical conditions that require understanding, support, and proper treatment.
  3. Parenting and focusing on loved ones can ground and provide strength in battling against compulsions and intrusive thoughts.

Friday Q&A: on antidepressants; inattention; social anxiety; & “am I taking too many meds?”

Are You Okay? • 359 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Medication Therapy Anxiety Depression
  1. Consider the option of seeking medication for managing depression symptoms if other interventions are not fully effective.
  2. Medication can be a valuable tool in a holistic approach to mental health, when used appropriately and under medical supervision.
  3. When facing intrusive thoughts and anxiety, techniques like recentering oneself and avoiding spirals can be helpful to regain focus.

Lagging Behind

Venture Prose • 359 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity Self-care Mental health
  1. Acknowledge when you're falling behind and need to clean house. Don't blame yourself too much; it happens. Adjust your schedule to find more time and space to get things done in the next few days.
  2. Prioritize tasks and schedule them for the upcoming week. Be careful not to spread them too thin. Start with the most critical things early in the morning to avoid carrying a mental backlog.
  3. Don't be afraid to say no, reschedule, or cancel commitments. Get back to handling emails and important messages promptly without overthinking. Be honest about your overwhelmed feelings.

The Dark Side of Hustle Culture

Litverse • 139 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Influencer Culture Loneliness Work ethic Literature Mental health
  1. The influencer industry highlights the difficulties and pressures of constantly being connected online, impacting mental health and personal relationships.
  2. In a hustle culture that glorifies productivity, traditional social activities, reading, and personal experiences are neglected, leading to increased loneliness and anxiety among younger generations.
  3. The obsession with constant connection through screens and digital validation can result in a disconnection from real-life experiences, personal growth, and genuine human connections.

The map is clear but the road is bumpy.

Castles in the Sky • 41 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Mental health Personal Growth Recovery Goal setting
  1. Training for a half marathon has shifted my view on what's possible. I used to think certain goals were unreachable, but now I'm running regularly and feeling empowered.
  2. Reflecting on my past goal-setting has shown me the value of having big goals. It's interesting how I used to see myself as driven by small goals, but I might shift back to aiming higher.
  3. Understanding ADHD has been a journey filled with mixed feelings. During testing, I felt shame for past behaviors, highlighting the need to see these challenges in a more compassionate light.

Psychedelics & the death experience

Trickle-Down Wellness • 196 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Research Mental health
  1. Psychedelics are being researched for various medical applications like treating anxiety, depression, and existential distress in terminally-ill patients.
  2. Historically, LSD studies funded by the US government from 1953-1973 showed positive results for various conditions and situations.
  3. Ongoing debates exist around the use of macrodoses or microdoses of psychedelics as medicine, with evidence showing potential benefits of larger doses, especially in end-of-life care.

Even if Lots of Mental Illnesses Are Just Preferences, Caplan Is Still Wrong About Mental Illness

Bentham's Newsletter • 353 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Philosophy Treatment Incentives Stigma
  1. Caplan argues that if something is responsive to incentives, it can't be a mental illness.
  2. Preferences can be irrational and harmful, making them akin to mental illnesses.
  3. Mental illness can be a complex judgment based on normative considerations and other factors.

Attached.

Finding Joy • 176 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Relationships Therapy Self-awareness
  1. Neuroplasticity influences our relationships by shaping our attachment patterns from early experiences.
  2. Understanding your attachment style can help navigate relationships and develop self-awareness.
  3. Attachment styles are not fixed and can be modified through corrective experiences and forming new mental pathways.

Sensitivity-to-the-world

box. • 359 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Psychology Self-help
  1. Being labeled as 'gifted' or having ADHD can create pressure and frustration. Some people feel these labels don't really reflect their struggles and often lead to unfair expectations.
  2. It's important to address needs before they become critical. Creating an accommodating environment helps everyone feel supported and reduces the chance of slipping into crisis.
  3. Sensitivity can be viewed as a strength rather than a weakness. With the right tools and understanding, people can harness their sensitivity to succeed and thrive.

Queries for Katy: When to Quit

The Flawed Yogi Report • 79 implied HN points • 02 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help Mental health Physical health Personal Development
  1. Quitting is often the best choice. Consider sunk cost fallacy and prioritize future satisfaction over past investment.
  2. Avoid turning your passion into a job. Balancing strength and ease in activities could lead to greater satisfaction and effectiveness.
  3. Find the right balance of difficulty in tasks to enhance pleasure and effectiveness. Don't stress too much about grades, focus on enjoying the work and learning.

What's the one thing we all hate but can't stop doing?

Both Are True • 543 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Technology Self-care Productivity Addiction
  1. Many of us hate being constantly on social media but find it hard to stop.
  2. Our constant need for achievement and validation online can lead to anxiety and a sense of never doing enough.
  3. Taking breaks from social media and setting boundaries with technology can help regain self-control and focus on other fulfilling activities.

The Future of this Newsletter

Are You Okay? • 559 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Physical health Wellness Community Support
  1. This newsletter, started during the COVID pandemic, has grown into a community of 20,000+ readers with a focus on various health topics like weight loss, aging, and mental health.
  2. Paid subscribers get access to exclusive features like private discussions, Q&A sessions, and a community bulletin board for health tips and insights.
  3. The focus of the newsletter is on providing evidence-based medical information to help people navigate physical and mental health, emphasizing the importance of living better, not just longer.

Friday Q&A: Irritable Bowel; HRT & breast cancer; sudden cardiac arrest; & tinnitus

Are You Okay? • 339 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Digestive Health Mental health General Health Women's Health Healthy living
  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a real condition that affects a significant portion of the population, more commonly women, causing symptoms like cramping, pain, bloating, and more.
  2. Managing IBS involves keeping a food diary to identify trigger foods, checking medications for possible digestive effects, increasing fiber intake gradually, managing stress, and nurturing the gut microbiome by choosing the right foods.
  3. Individuals with family history of breast cancer and considering hormone replacement therapy should consult with healthcare providers, as factors like age, lifestyle habits, and specific health conditions play a role in decision-making.

Rebellion!

Disaffected Newsletter • 519 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Issues Education & Policy Media Critique Activism Mental health
  1. A therapist discusses Nevada's focus on 'affirmation only' gender ideology and offers advice on finding a non-activist therapist.
  2. People are starting to resist extreme gender policies in schools, highlighted by principals criticizing students for not supporting LGBTQ events.
  3. There is controversy over schools providing inappropriate materials in libraries, as some believe it harms children despite claims of promoting diversity.