The hottest Mental health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

98 - Emotion Stories

Nick Burdick: Writing from California • 99 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Mental health
  1. Emotions can be primal, like fear and craving, which we can't fully control right away. It's important to create safeguards to keep these emotions from guiding our decisions.
  2. Some emotions are based on stories we create, like anger or jealousy. Recognizing these as stories helps us react better and keep our thoughts clear.
  3. It's crucial to be mindful of what we feed our minds, like avoiding negative news and social media. Quality content gives us better reactions and lessens harmful habits.

The 12 new idea books to launch 2024

Granted • 11240 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
📚 Literature Mental health
  1. Mental Health and Well-Being: Discover how a little therapy can lead to lasting change and how to move from languishing to flourishing.
  2. Connection and Community: Learn about the power of being like-hearted without needing to be like-minded and practical steps for unity in a divided world.
  3. Leadership and Power: Explore resources on fixing organizational problems, finding purpose after major life transitions, and improving critical thinking for wiser decisions.

Can Vibe Coding Make Me a Better Catholic?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 329 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mental health
  1. Advanced AI is being used to build faith-focused mental health tools, showing tech can be turned toward religious practice and pastoral care.
  2. State-of-the-art models like Claude feel almost superhuman, and that sense of completeness makes people nervous about how fast AI is evolving and what it could change in our lives.
  3. Sincere, faith-oriented projects coming from unexpected creators prompt suspicion, highlighting tensions around authenticity, trust, and the role of technology in spiritual life.

Level Up: Week 3

Running Probably • 59 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. It's important to have easy runs in your training. Not every run should be tough; some should feel light and fun.
  2. Building a running routine means making your run a priority. Set aside time and prepare so that running becomes a natural part of your day.
  3. Managing your effort can help improve your running. Use the talk test to find a comfortable pace where you can chat easily while running.

"We are sensitive machines"

Five’s Substack • 3197 implied HN points • 23 May 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Most people only have about 5 good hours a day to focus and be productive, and this can vary a lot. It's important to recognize that sometimes it might feel like you have even less time to think clearly.
  2. To make the most of those good hours, you need to protect your time and avoid distractions. It takes discipline to choose better activities and stick to them.
  3. Having a set time dedicated to reading and writing can help create a space for creativity and deeper thought. It's about creating a routine that allows you to fully engage with your ideas.
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Parricide

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1613 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
📰 News Mental health
  1. A brutal murder happened on that block when a mentally disturbed young woman was released and then stabbed her mother, and she’s now back in confinement.
  2. The house where the killing occurred was bought, cleaned and renovated, then sold again, showing that properties with violent histories can be resold and aren’t always searchable in public records.
  3. The offender contacted the new owner from the institution with threatening messages, and the institution assured the owner the woman would not be released.

Book Review: Sanity and Sainthood, by Dr. Tucker Peck

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 1455 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Meditation and psychotherapy start from different ideas — meditation treats thoughts as transient waves to watch, while therapy treats them as meaningful stories — but both can help and often complement each other.
  2. Combining meditation with therapy creates a virtuous loop: meditation calms and clarifies the mind so therapeutic work is more effective, and therapy helps integrate difficult material so meditation becomes more stable.
  3. This path needs practical guidance and realistic expectations: deep practice can be hard, may lower short-term happiness, and real change usually takes many years of steady effort rather than quick fixes.

Derealization for a whole hour

Disaffected Newsletter • 779 implied HN points • 05 Aug 24
🎙 Podcasts Mental health
  1. Many people are feeling derealization, which makes them question if the world around them is real. This can happen even to those who are usually stable.
  2. A therapist is discussing what she's seeing in clients regarding derealization and offers advice for those worried about their mental state.
  3. There's a concerning situation in Vermont where the state's Supreme Court allowed schools to give vaccines to children without parents' consent, showing a troubling trend.

Book recommendations (4)

Tao Lin • 899 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
📚 Literature Mental health
  1. Books on near-death experiences suggest that afterlife experiences are peaceful and free of judgment, often offering insights into spirituality and the soul.
  2. The negative effects of long-term use of psychiatric drugs are discussed in depth, showing how they might worsen mental health rather than help it.
  3. A low vitamin A diet is presented as a potential solution for various health problems, challenging common beliefs about vitamin A's necessity and safety.

how to help someone change without going crazy

bookbear express • 688 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Change depends on a person’s nervous system capacity and sense of safety, not on how well you explain things. You can’t force someone to change if they’re frozen by fear or guilt.
  2. Don’t assume you can make someone change or build plans that rely on big shifts; ask if they want to change and if they want your help, and keep clear boundaries to avoid codependency.
  3. Pay attention to patterns, feelings, and implicit relationship contracts more than spoken reasons; look for consistency and self-awareness as signs of readiness, and gently name underlying emotions rather than arguing about mental content.

My Wife Accepted Her Death. Why Can’t I?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 472 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Even with practical preparations, emotional acceptance can differ: one partner may calmly accept death while the surviving partner struggles to be ready.
  2. Long marriages often shift from sexual passion to a deep shared identity, so losing a spouse feels like losing an essential part of oneself.
  3. Wills and advance directives help with logistics but don’t erase the daily loneliness, sudden tears, or the shock when life unfolds differently than expected.

Growing up Online Nearly Killed Me

After Babel • 2199 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Mental health
  1. Online grooming and sextortion are serious dangers that many young people face. It's important to talk about these issues to protect kids.
  2. The bond between a parent and child can be vital in overcoming trauma. Open communication helps in healing and understanding each other's experiences.
  3. Sharing personal stories can help create awareness and support for those struggling. It shows others they're not alone and encourages conversations about mental health and safety online.

Welcome!

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 21 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Sustainable performance needs both effort and careful energy management. Effort builds growth, but energy is what keeps that growth going.
  2. Life after professional sport can become a meaningful second career through coaching, speaking, and leading teams, turning past experience into purposeful work.
  3. Community action and storytelling — like free events and sharing personal stories — help fight suicide stigma and build resilience.

Need a few days off

In My Tribe • 455 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. A switch from Benadryl to Flonase led to an unusually strong reaction to the steroid medication.
  2. That reaction produced a big increase in appetite and racing thoughts, making it hard to concentrate.
  3. They plan to take a few days off to recover their focus and expect to resume posting soon.

Hands up, who likes me?

Wrong Side of History • 479 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Threatening suicide is often used as a way to negotiate or emotionally manipulate others, and it’s common among teenagers and in online culture where dramatic disclosure brings attention.
  2. Some psychologists view suicidal behaviour as a costly signal — a bargaining tactic that pressures others to change, which helps explain why many attempts are survivable and chosen for leverage.
  3. Cultural and religious norms shape how suicide threats are treated: some societies historically used them to force outcomes, while others condemn them, creating very different incentives.

Dream Book Review: The Deal With Trauma

Astral Codex Ten • 6263 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
📚 Literature Mental health
  1. Understanding trauma is important for healing and growth. It helps us deal with past experiences better.
  2. Dreams can give us insights into our emotions and unresolved issues. They are like windows into our inner thoughts.
  3. There are ways to process trauma through dreams and conscious reflection. This can aid in moving forward in life.

Let's make 2024 the year of saying no to productivity culture

Changing The Channel • 8730 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Taking time to rest and relax is essential for our well-being, even if it goes against the pervasive productivity culture.
  2. Rest should not be tied to productivity but should be seen as a natural cycle to be honored.
  3. During challenging times, like January, it's okay to embrace the idea of taking a break and not succumb to the pressure of always being productive.

Here's Your Kanye West Cliff Notes

Freddie deBoer • 17079 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Kanye West has claimed he's not bipolar but autistic, stirring up a lot of conversation. This shows how he sometimes tackles personal issues in surprising ways.
  2. People are becoming less sympathetic toward Kanye as he shows more unstable behavior online. Critics are more focused on his actions rather than considering if his mental health influences them.
  3. There is a strange disconnect around how society views mental illness. Critics want to blame Kanye but feel conflicted about viewing him as a person influenced by his disability.

Building Narratives Around Challenging Experiences

Human Programming • 51 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Sometimes the best choice is to not publish a painful story because putting it out gives it more life than it needs.
  2. Small, simple narrative bridges—brief acknowledgements or redirects—are often enough to recognize difficulty and then move attention to the present.
  3. Reframing hardships as opportunities for growth can improve mental health and lower stress-related inflammation, so focusing on what you’ll do next supports recovery.

Is today your day?

Disaffected Newsletter • 2138 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Getting sober is possible, and there are many ways to do it that work for different people.
  2. Some people quit drinking all at once, while others might go to rehab or join support groups.
  3. The important thing is to find what works best for you and your situation.

How To Heal When The World Is On Fire

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1364 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Healing is not the same as feeling safe; it starts by moving into uncomfortable feelings and fully experiencing them instead of trying to escape them.
  2. Healing means tracking reactive habits back to their first moments, listening to and compassionately soothing the small parts of yourself that developed those defenses, which dissolves their power over you.
  3. You can and should start healing now, even amid chaos, because it clears reactivity, restores intuition and agency, and makes you more effective against oppressive systems.

Who are you?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 810 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. A long-running public health newsletter has a big, engaged audience and is asking readers to take an annual survey to help shape future coverage.
  2. Survey respondents are mostly from North America and Australia, skew 45–64 years old, are highly educated, and many act as trusted messengers who share information with family, colleagues, and communities.
  3. Readers still want infectious disease coverage but are increasingly interested in public health communication and misinformation, news analysis, climate-related health, and issues like mental health, opioids, and reproductive health, and the newsletter aims to broaden topics and reach younger and more politically diverse readers.

Can You Really Be ‘Addicted’ to Social Media?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 162 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Mental health
  1. A young user says years of social media use caused anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and body-image problems, and she's suing the platforms.
  2. The legal fight focuses on whether harm comes from the content itself or from design features like infinite scroll, likes, autoplay, and queued videos.
  3. Addiction science is complex, and this trial is being treated as a bellwether for many lawsuits that liken social media’s effects to drug or gambling addiction.

Fix Your Damn Insomnia With This Boring, Lousy, No-Good Hack

Everything Is Amazing • 1303 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Regular physical activity can meaningfully improve sleep and help reduce insomnia.
  2. Gentle, mindful exercises like yoga, tai chi, walking and slow jogging often work best because they lower stress, calm the nervous system, and promote better breathing.
  3. The most effective fixes are often simple and boring — increase movement you can stick with — though results will vary by person.

Optimism, The Last Taboo

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 7640 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Toxic positivity is when people insist on being positive all the time, even when it's unhealthy. This can make others' real feelings feel ignored or invalidated.
  2. While being optimistic can have its benefits, too much emphasis on it can create pressure to always seem happy. This can cause people to feel more isolated or misunderstood.
  3. Society often rewards positive attitudes, but this can also lead to tension when genuine emotions are brushed aside. It's important to balance positivity with real empathy.

Introducing: ‘Tough Love with Abigail Shrier’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1446 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. A new weekly advice column called "Tough Love" will deliver blunt, practical advice every Thursday to paying subscribers.
  2. It aims to tackle real-world anxieties, illustrated by a reader worried that looming social chaos makes it hard to commit to long-term plans while raising young children.
  3. Readers can submit questions to the column, but access requires a paid subscription, which is currently being promoted with 25% off the first year.

Perhaps You Would Be a Little Touchy Too

Freddie deBoer • 16429 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Bipolar disorder is often misunderstood, with many thinking mood swings happen quickly, but the truth is they usually take weeks or months. It's important to really understand how the disorder works.
  2. People are increasingly claiming new and unusual diagnoses for mental health issues, which can undermine the seriousness of established conditions. This shift creates confusion and can affect how we view our own experiences.
  3. Claiming a diagnosis can feel liberating for some, but it can also lead to challenges when others misrepresent these conditions. It's tough when what you know to be true about your own illness feels threatened.

How to Break Free from Dopamine Culture

The Honest Broker • 44184 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Minimize reliance on scrolling and swiping interfaces to avoid falling into addictive traps engineered by tech companies.
  2. Rediscover real-world applications like learning skills and connecting with the community, which provide personal empowerment and genuine experiences.
  3. Immerse yourself in longer, immersive experiences like listening to music or engaging in rituals to break free from the shallow stimuli of modern technology.

Arthur Brooks: Popularity Won’t Make You Happy

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 500 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Being popular or beloved by millions does not automatically make you happy; external approval is not the same as inner fulfillment.
  2. Different people thrive in different roles. Some find joy in private, scholarly work while others enjoy public-facing careers with travel and recognition.
  3. Choose work and a lifestyle that fit your temperament and values instead of chasing fame, because popularity is an unreliable guide to a good life.

Our Healthcare System, a Reign of Terror

Freddie deBoer • 18038 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. Many people only react strongly to certain types of suffering and fail to recognize the ongoing harm of our healthcare system. It's important to think about why we care more about some victims than others.
  2. Our healthcare system often denies essential care to those who need it, leading to tragic outcomes. The choices made by companies and policymakers directly affect people's lives and deaths.
  3. There's a disconnect in how society views death caused by healthcare versus murder. We need to acknowledge and address the systemic issues causing suffering in our healthcare system, rather than just express sympathy for individual cases.

We Are Not Okay

The Audacity. • 5621 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Social media can often be a place where sincerity dies, with people sharing their struggles and miseries.
  2. There is pressure to always appear okay, even though many people are dealing with isolation and various problems.
  3. Despite progress in discussing mental health, there are still challenges like expensive therapy and inconsistent insurance coverage.

Nobody Wants to Hear Good News About Psychiatric Medicine

Freddie deBoer • 5940 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. A new study shows that withdrawal symptoms from SSRIs are actually rare and not as severe as many people think. Despite this good news, it hasn't gotten much coverage in the media.
  2. There are exciting developments in antipsychotic medications, which are becoming more effective and have fewer side effects. This is a positive change that is worth noticing.
  3. There seems to be a reluctance in the media to share good news about psychiatric medicine, possibly because it doesn't fit certain narratives. It's important for people to hear about the progress being made in mental health treatments.

Life is better in real life

City Quitters • 839 implied HN points • 17 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Real life gives us real experiences that phones can distract us from. When we spend too much time on our devices, we miss out on what’s happening around us.
  2. There's a growing desire for people to unplug and enjoy life without smartphones. Many are seeking ways to rediscover experiences like hanging out or exploring nature without capturing them on their phones.
  3. Kids today spend an incredible amount of time on screens, which can affect their social skills and creativity. Finding ways to encourage boredom and real-life interactions is important for better mental health.

Living in ‘survival mode’ causes chronic illness, and may even kill you

Changing The Channel • 8192 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Living in chronic stress from survival mode can lead to chronic illnesses and impact life expectancy
  2. Moving abroad is not just for the rich; many Americans are seeking a better quality of life due to the high cost of living and lack of a social safety net in the United States
  3. Chronic stress is normalized in America and can contribute to chronic illnesses, making it essential to address the root causes of stress in society

Notes on Not Posting

Working Theorys • 430 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Taking breaks from posting reclaims time, privacy, and a sense of freedom. It reduces anxiety and comparison and frees energy for deeper, more meaningful work.
  2. Posting often traps you in a consumption-and-performance loop that makes you think in posts and monitor metrics. Stepping away breaks that loop, improves sleep and creativity, and encourages long-term value over quick hits.
  3. Absence clarifies relationships and perspective: true friends reach out while casual audiences fade, and the internet keeps moving without you. Reclaiming time is ultimately about regaining self-respect and control over your attention.

Wokeness Is the Psychic Epidemic Carl Jung Warned About

Heterodox STEM • 362 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Wokeness is framed as a social-level mental health crisis that spreads like a psychic epidemic. It promotes reality-distorting beliefs, moral splitting, and scapegoating.
  2. Social media and institutional incentives amplify this dynamic by rewarding outrage and victimhood over calm, accurate thinking. That amplification helps explain rising anxiety and depression among young people.
  3. The proposed remedies are protecting free speech, encouraging personal responsibility, and rebuilding stabilizing communities or parallel institutions. These steps aim to anchor truth, reduce moral panic, and restore psychological resilience.

The Invisible Force Blocking Your Creativity

Changing The Channel • 6039 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Resistance is an invisible force that aims to prevent us from pursuing our deepest desires and goals.
  2. Procrastination is a common manifestation of Resistance and serves as an easy way to rationalize avoiding our work.
  3. Critics and naysayers, including those close to us, may stem from their own fears and insecurities, projecting them onto our creative endeavors.

Who "Neurodiversity" Left Behind

Freddie deBoer • 15655 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. The voices of people living with severe disabilities are often overlooked in public discussions about neurodiversity. This can leave families feeling isolated and unheard.
  2. Autism discourse has shifted to focus on individuals who thrive, while those who struggle daily are sidelined. It's important to acknowledge the challenges faced by many with severe autism.
  3. A diverse conversation about autism is needed, including all levels of ability and experiences. Everyone, regardless of their background, should have a say in these important discussions.

'The Anxious Generation': Things Are Worse Than We Realized

The Analog Family • 2977 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Smartphones and digital media have greatly increased anxiety and depression in kids. The period between 2010 and 2015 saw a sharp rise in these mental health issues coinciding with the rise of smartphone use.
  2. Kids need real-life play to develop important social skills and physical abilities. Too much screen time replaces active play, leading to developmental challenges.
  3. Parents play a crucial role in managing their children's digital exposure. Limiting smartphone use before high school, avoiding social media until 16, and encouraging outdoor play can improve children's well-being.