Addiction
idea
You can want things you don’t like and like things you don’t want
The distinct neurochemistry of wanting and liking is helping to make sense of addiction – and more everyday behaviours
by Shayla Love
Trauma and PTSD
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The shadows cast by childhood abuse and neglect are not the same
Unravelling the pathways from different forms of childhood maltreatment to mental illness could lead to better treatments
by Anne Alkema & Marco Boks
Sleep problems
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What to do when racing thoughts keep you up at night
Any attempts to escape your mind or make yourself sleep are likely to backfire. Try these expert tips instead
by Matt Huston
Personality disorders
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To understand borderline personality, imagine having no history
For people with an unfairly stigmatised mental health condition, and the rest of us, it’s vital to connect past with present
by Alexander Kriss
Spirituality and religion
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A monk showed me that spirituality needs more space in medicine
As a doctor, I’ve seen how brain diseases can become entwined with spiritual pain. Who is responsible for addressing it?
by Michael P H Stanley
Death and dying
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Why so many of us see our loved ones after they have died
These experiences – which are more of an illusion than a hallucination – can be a healthy part of the grieving process
by Shayla Love
Emerging therapies
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Could that tingle down the spine be a way to rediscover joy?
In new research, scientists have looked into the potential benefits of giving people with depression the aesthetic chills
by Shayla Love
Worry and rumination
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Should you confront your worries or try to banish them?
Psychotherapists have long believed it’s a bad idea to suppress worrisome thoughts, but new research is prompting a rethink
by Shayla Love
Emotion regulation
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The psychology of impatience could make waiting more tolerable
New studies on the experience of impatience suggest there’s more to it than simply how long you’ve been left hanging
by Matt Huston
Dissociation and detachment
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The therapeutic potential, and addictive lure, of losing yourself
In ketamine therapy and other contexts, dissociation is seen as an unwanted side-effect. But what if there’s more to it?
by Shayla Love
Laughter and comedy
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Absurdist comedy is uniquely brilliant at conveying human pain
On stage as Mr Fruit Salad, I’ve seen how the bizarre and ridiculous can convey deep meaning in a way that resonates
by Joz Norris
Psychosis and schizophrenia
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Rubber hand illusions shed new light on our bodily sense of self
Testing the illusions on those who have entered altered states offers clues about the experience of being in control
by Shayla Love