The hottest Therapy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

In Partial Grudging Defense Of Some Aspects Of Therapy Culture

Astral Codex Ten • 9979 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Therapy Mental health Self-discovery Emotions Personal Growth
  1. Therapy culture emphasizes finding your true self and making changes if needed.
  2. Alexithymia can apply to emotions and preferences, making some individuals disconnected from themselves.
  3. Therapy culture may help individuals access their preferences, but it can also lead to false beliefs about a 'truer self'.

How Bad Therapy Hijacked Our Nation’s Schools

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4609 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Schools Children Education
  1. American kids are facing increasing mental health challenges despite being considered the most privileged generation, with a significant percentage considering suicide, indicating a worrisome trend.
  2. The focus on mental health by parents and schools may be inadvertently contributing to the rise in anxiety and depression among children, highlighting a possible correlation between therapy culture and the decline in youth mental well-being.
  3. The prevalence of 'bad therapy' practices, such as excessive emotional check-ins and emphasizing social-emotional learning over traditional academic subjects, is suggested to be exacerbating emotional distress in kids, showing a need for reevaluation of current approaches in schools.

10x happiness increases are possible, and this is an underrated fact

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 2451 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Physical health Social Connections Medication
  1. Happiness is not a fixed state; significant increases in happiness are achievable through various factors like medication, career growth, physical activities, and personal growth.
  2. Factors contributing to increased happiness include therapy, meditation, improved social connections, financial stability, and positive life changes.
  3. Belief in static happiness levels may limit people from realizing their potential for significant happiness increases, preventing them from actively working towards a happier life.

I Was Told to Approve All Teen Gender Transitions. I Refused.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 6649 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Therapy Gender Dysphoria Mental health
  1. Independent publications and individual testimonies have been instrumental in shedding light on the complexities of 'gender-affirming' care.
  2. The increase in lawsuits from young individuals highlights the significant consequences of life-altering treatments.
  3. Therapist Tamara Pietzke's experience reveals concerns about the current trend of 'affirmative care' for youth with gender dysphoria, urging a reevaluation of therapeutic approaches.

Mental Health is Health 🧠

Are You Okay? • 1737 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Wellbeing Therapy Medication Awareness
  1. Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall health, affecting our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as our physical health. It is not just about happiness but about acknowledging and working on our fears, moods, habits, and relationships.
  2. Being aware of our mental health, accepting the things we cannot change, and taking action over the things we can control are important steps in managing mental health.
  3. Addressing mental health issues is a nuanced process that may involve a combination of medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, and self-discovery. It requires a holistic approach considering bio-psycho-social elements.
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We Are Not Okay

The Audacity. • 5621 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Isolation Social media Therapy Healthcare
  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.

The Democrats Praying for an Open Convention

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1683 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential Election International relations Mental health Therapy
  1. Speculation about Michelle Obama entering the presidential race as an alternative to Joe Biden is circulating, but Michelle Obama has repeated she will not be running for president.
  2. Concerns are rising among Democratic insiders about President Biden's declining faculties and the need for a possible replacement before the next election.
  3. There's a complex dynamic between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, but a change in Israeli leadership may have to come from within, not due to external pressures.

A Surprising Fix for Weight Gain, Digestive Woes & Skeletal Pain

Are You Okay? • 3095 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Physical health Therapy Medication Self-compassion
  1. Self-compassion is a crucial element for overall health, often more important than medication for certain symptoms.
  2. Non-pharmacologic interventions are commonly prescribed alongside medications to address complex health problems like weight gain, insomnia, and chronic pain.
  3. Self-compassion, forgiveness, and love for oneself can be the most effective remedies for inner struggles and health issues, often more powerful than medication.

Three years in: a clinician’s perspective

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) • 3282 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Gender Dysphoria
  1. Working with young people going through gender transition can be challenging due to their strong beliefs and reactions.
  2. Therapists also need to navigate the emotions and expectations of parents who seek help for their children's gender dysphoria.
  3. Clinicians working with transgender youth face unique pressures in a professional and political climate that may not always support their ethical principles.

America’s Families Are Not Okay

Persuasion • 2692 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships Family Psychology Therapy Mental health
  1. Family estrangement is becoming more common in the United States, with societal shifts and individual empowerment contributing to the trend.
  2. The impact of estrangement on both parents and adult children can lead to deep sadness, embarrassment, and longing for familial connection.
  3. While family estrangement may seem like a socially endorsed choice, it carries a heavy emotional toll, spreading through generations and leaving individuals feeling lonely and anchorless.

Finding Ourselves in Fairy Tales: a new online program at Pacifica Graduate Institute

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 1797 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🚌 Education Myth Psychology Therapy Narrative
  1. The program at Pacifica Graduate Institute offers an eight-month training in personal narrative work, suitable for clinicians/therapists and individuals interested in deepening their personal work with fairy tales and storytelling.
  2. Participants will explore fairy tales as a reflection of the collective unconscious, use fairy tales to rewrite self-narratives, and learn practices for personal growth and therapeutic applications.
  3. The course structure includes monthly recorded lectures, live Zoom discussions, resource lists, and creative prompts, aiming for an interactive and engaging learning experience.

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 Medication Anxiety Therapy COVID-19
  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.

In response to those who are concerned about my general criticism of the counter-culture movement...

Through A Glass Darkly • 1356 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Religion Philosophy Therapy
  1. The author discusses the origins and influences of the counter-culture movement.
  2. There is a caution against blindly following teachings without critical thinking.
  3. The importance of discerning between healthy and destructive approaches to spirituality and mental well-being is highlighted.

Is it Time to Start An Antidepressant?

Are You Okay? • 1238 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Treatment Medication Therapy Symptoms
  1. Depression is a medical condition, not a flaw. Seeing your doctor is crucial.
  2. Treatment options for depression vary and can include therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft.
  3. Pharmacotherapy, like antidepressants, can be beneficial in managing depression when used as part of a holistic treatment plan.

AI therapists, aging selfies and our shifty, synthetic future

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 339 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Internet Therapy Social media Artificial Intelligence
  1. AI voice scams are emerging, making it hard to trust any media, even phone calls from loved ones
  2. People are turning to AI chatbots for therapy, sparking questions about the essence of human relationships and personal growth
  3. Online groups aiming to improve dating often lead to harmful consequences despite good intentions

Saturday PITT Review - February 5 to 9, 2024

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) • 589 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Gender Ideology Parenting Therapy Transgender Mental health
  1. The post provides a weekly roundup of articles, books, podcasts, and social media related to gender ideology.
  2. Therapy First has grown significantly and offers support for families struggling with gender-related issues.
  3. A therapist in Washington raised concerns about pressure to transition young patients, adding to a growing conversation about gender transitions.

the privatization of stress

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank • 884 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Stress Community Therapy
  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.

Abigail Shrier: Letters to the Editor

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 227 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Emotional Well-being
  1. Abigail Shrier's book has sparked discussion on mental health, particularly regarding the harm mental health professionals may unintentionally cause to young people.
  2. Intergenerational trauma is a controversial topic, with experiences like Holocaust survivors' children showing different responses that may not align with traditional perspectives.
  3. There are varying opinions on how modern parenting styles and educational systems impact young people's mental health and development, with some believing that constant self-focus can be detrimental.

Why are young liberals so depressed?

Slow Boring • 8117 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Social media Political Ideology Therapy Emotional Well-being Youth Mental Health
  1. The mental health of young liberals is influenced by a mix of factors including social media, politics, and societal issues.
  2. Political ideology plays a role in the mental health of adolescents, with liberal girls showing higher levels of depression.
  3. Encouraging positive emotional responses and avoiding catastrophizing can be beneficial for mental health.

An Antidote for Wound Collecting

The Dose • 589 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-Improvement Wellbeing Therapy Parenting
  1. Focusing on strengths over fragility can help us grow and feel better.
  2. Creating an identity around victimhood can lead to rumination, lack of empathy, and a constant need for recognition of suffering.
  3. Reframing our life story as a hero's journey can increase well-being, resilience, and help us see obstacles as challenges to overcome.

Law enforcement seizures of psychedelic mushrooms skyrocket; Could psychedelics lead to better sex? And will CA be the next state to launch a psychedelics program?

The Microdose • 432 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Mental health Research Legislation Therapy
  1. Law enforcement seizures of psychedelic mushrooms have significantly increased over the years, indicating a potential rise in availability and use.
  2. Research suggests that psychedelics like psilocybin can lead to improvements in sexual functioning and satisfaction.
  3. California is considering launching a state-regulated program for therapeutic use of psychedelics, potentially making it the first to focus explicitly on psychedelic therapy.

self-abandonment

bookbear express • 143 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Emotions Therapy Self-reflection
  1. Learning to experience emotions in a new way involves understanding self-abandonment and its impact on personal well-being.
  2. The fear of abandonment is often rooted in the idea of abandoning oneself rather than fearing being abandoned by others.
  3. Personal challenges often stem from one's own attitude towards oneself, rather than solely from external influences.

How to Manage Health Anxiety

Are You Okay? • 1258 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Anxiety Trauma Mental health Well-being Therapy
  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

Don't Waste Your Money on the Clearblue Menopause Journey Test

The Vajenda • 2024 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Menopause Testing Symptoms Hormones Therapy
  1. Menopause can be diagnosed clinically based on age, menstrual status, and symptoms, not through blood or urine tests.
  2. Hormone tests for menopause can be unreliable due to individual variations and do not determine when therapy should be started.
  3. Clearblue Menopause Stage Indicator test may not provide reliable results and consulting with a healthcare professional is still necessary.

A cornucopia of new bills; Canadians support end-of-life psilocybin therapy; and tempering the hype

The Microdose • 294 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Therapy Research Mental health
  1. At least 10 states have introduced new legislation related to psychedelics since the beginning of the year.
  2. Canadians show strong support for end-of-life psilocybin therapy.
  3. There is a growing movement to critically examine and temper the hype surrounding psychedelics, focusing on ethical and political implications.

Insomnia Advice

Thing of Things • 176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Insomnia Sleep Therapy Medication Advice
  1. If you have occasional insomnia, believing that lying down with your eyes closed can be almost as beneficial as sleeping might help.
  2. For chronic insomnia, consider trying antidepressants or other sleeping medications under your doctor's guidance. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is also effective.
  3. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia involves following a strict routine, including tracking sleep patterns, setting a consistent wake-up time, and avoiding napping during the day.

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.