X CLOSE

Disorders and difficulties

A cocktail in a coupe glass with an orange twist on a wooden table in front of a dark, tufted lounge seating

Addiction

idea

My great-grandfather poisoned drinkers during Prohibition

In a grim irony, his descendants – my grandmother and mother – struggled with drink. Here’s what I’d tell him about addiction

by Rebecca Lester

People at night in front of St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow with a woman waving a large Russian flag in the foreground.

Conflict and conflict resolution

idea

Does national humiliation explain why wars break out?

For a nation, humiliation isn’t just a feeling – it’s a story. Understanding this can help countries move beyond aggression

by Raamy Majeed

The Sydney city skyline featuring the Opera House under a dramatic dark stormy sky with a sailboat on the water in the foreground.

Difficult emotions

idea

How to understand and cope with mood swings

Sudden mood changes can be unsettling, but getting to know them will help you regain balance and, if needed, find support

by Zindel Segal & Norman Farb

A person leaning against a wall under a light in a dimly lit alley with graffiti-covered walls.

Addiction

idea

The shame felt in addiction often isn’t toxic – it’s healing

The push to take shame out of recovery is well-meaning. But it overlooks the power this emotion has to motivate change

by Owen Flanagan

A woman on a laptop in a modern café with wall art, a large cactus and pendant lights above.

Worry and rumination

idea

What if your worry problem is really a planning problem?

Clinicians have long recognised the link between worry and planning. New research asks what this means for managing anxiety

by Paul B Sharp

Photo of a woman in a floral shirt, appearing deep in thought with her hands clasped near her face.

Cognitive and behavioural therapies

idea

Instead of wrestling with self-defeating thoughts, try this

When your own thoughts discourage and undermine you, it’s easy to get tangled. A change of strategy could get you past it

by Joe Oliver & Kristy Potter

Photo of a small American flag on a metal barrier surrounded by litter at night.

Civic life

idea

Disappointment is not just a feeling – it’s a political force

When political regimes fail us, don’t turn to optimism. It’s disappointment that holds the radical potential for change

by Rafael Holmberg

Painting of a woman with large eyes wearing dark clothes surrounded by bold colours including red and yellow.

Grief

idea

The loss remains, so why does intense grief usually fade?

Grief’s ‘double vision’ beholds both the bereaved and dead. Recognising this duality helps explain our ability to move on

by Berislav Marušić

Photo of a woman with tattoos taking a selfie on a smartphone wearing an off-shoulder dress in front of glass doors.

Virtues and vices

idea

Social comparison is driving us to despair. It doesn’t have to

In the social media age, it seems impossible not to measure ourselves against others – but we can dodge the worst pitfalls

by Wojciech Kaftański

Photo of two people sitting at a wooden table each holding a mug, with a blurred outdoor background.

Psychotherapy

idea

Think someone should see a therapist? Here’s how to bring it up

Your suggestion could be invaluable, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. These steps will help you get a caring message across

by Kathryn Gordon

A man observing a large, lifelike sculpture of an elderly man with a braid on a white gallery wall.

Psychoanalysis and the unconscious

idea

Men’s anxiety about hair loss can have a deeper meaning

As a psychoanalyst, I’ve seen how reflecting on the emotional symbolism of hair loss can be therapeutic for many men

by Tom Wooldridge

A photo of a person sitting at a table in a cosy café setting. The background is softly blurred, showing shelves and decor.

Conflict and conflict resolution

idea

Why being snubbed can make you feel so hurt and enraged

The psychology of ostracism helps explain why you can sometimes shrug it off, yet other times feel the urge to lash out

by Christiane Büttner