The hottest Therapy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics
Freddie deBoer β€’ 16429 implied HN points β€’ 19 Jan 25
  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.
Situation Normal β€’ 128 implied HN points β€’ 16 Feb 25
  1. There's a big difference between feeling depressed by what's happening around us and actually being depressed. You can be upset about the news but still feel okay inside.
  2. Taking care of your mental health is important. Things like therapy, medication, and yoga can help you feel stronger and more resilient.
  3. It's possible to face dark times and still come out okay. You can experience tough moments without letting them define how you feel about yourself.
Ground Truths β€’ 5773 implied HN points β€’ 26 Oct 24
  1. Spatial medicine is a new field that combines biology and healthcare, focusing on using spatial data to improve patient treatment. This means doctors can analyze cells and tissues in detail to better understand diseases.
  2. Recent research showed that a new treatment using JAK inhibitors was effective for patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis, a serious skin condition. This treatment worked quickly and with no side effects, showcasing the potential of spatial medicine.
  3. The integration of AI and deep learning plays a key role in spatial medicine, helping to analyze complex data and improve patient outcomes. This advancement could lead to more personalized and effective treatments in the future.
The Audacity. β€’ 5621 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 24
  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.
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Slow Boring β€’ 8117 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 23
  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.
Are You Okay? β€’ 3095 implied HN points β€’ 19 Feb 24
  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.
Astral Codex Ten β€’ 9979 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 24
  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'.
Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) β€’ 3282 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 24
  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.
Common Sense with Bari Weiss β€’ 6649 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 24
  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.
Persuasion β€’ 2692 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jan 24
  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.
Are You Okay? β€’ 1737 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 24
  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.
Common Sense with Bari Weiss β€’ 4609 implied HN points β€’ 27 Feb 24
  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.
Disaffected Newsletter β€’ 2398 implied HN points β€’ 19 Jan 24
  1. Depression can feel overwhelming and isolating, but it's a temporary state that eventually lifts. It's important to remember that even in the worst times, things can improve.
  2. Understanding your past and your triggers can help in managing depression. It's not always about one specific cause or issue, but a mix of experiences and emotions.
  3. Finding small moments of joy or connection, like laughing or listening to music, can help you feel less alone. It's essential to hold onto those moments as signs of hope and recovery.
Reality's Last Stand β€’ 2142 implied HN points β€’ 31 Jan 24
  1. There's no one-size-fits-all explanation for why some men become autogynephilic.
  2. Men struggling with autogynephilia feel sexually aroused by the idea of themselves as women.
  3. Therapy for autogynephilic men focuses on addressing challenges like managing emotions and developing self-worth.
The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie β€’ 1797 implied HN points β€’ 13 Feb 24
  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.
Midnight Musings β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 11 Sep 24
  1. Pain happens when there's a mismatch between how we think things should be and how they actually are. It's like a warning sign from our brain telling us to rethink our beliefs.
  2. Mental illness can be seen as our struggle to deal with pain in a healthy way. Anxiety might come from fearing that pain, while depression can stem from being unable to accept our current situation.
  3. Grief starts when we adjust our beliefs to match our experiences. It's a complex emotion, but it's a part of being human and shows our understanding of life's unpredictability.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients β€’ 1397 implied HN points β€’ 22 Feb 24
  1. Overcoming OCD can be aided by a walking sensory meditation that focuses on physical sensations and external stimuli, helping to balance analytical thinking.
  2. OCD involves complex neurobiological aspects like increased dopamine input, decreased activity in the salience network, and decreased responsiveness to punishment.
  3. Practices like walking sensory meditation can help address the sensory-cognitive balance in the brain, similar to how exercise improves cerebellar functions.
Sasha's 'Newsletter' β€’ 2454 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 24
  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.
Through A Glass Darkly β€’ 1356 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jan 24
  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.
Are You Okay? β€’ 1238 implied HN points β€’ 22 Jan 24
  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.
The Vajenda β€’ 2024 implied HN points β€’ 08 Sep 23
  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.
Common Sense with Bari Weiss β€’ 1683 implied HN points β€’ 11 Mar 24
  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.
Defender’s corner β€’ 339 implied HN points β€’ 09 May 24
  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.
Airplane Mode with Liz Plank β€’ 884 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jan 24
  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.
Disaffected Newsletter β€’ 1418 implied HN points β€’ 29 Oct 23
  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.
Are You Okay? β€’ 1258 implied HN points β€’ 06 Nov 23
  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