Heal

Dealing with psychological challenges and sustaining body and mind in the face of adversity

Photo of a man holding laundry in a dimly lit room with shelves, a microwave and a curtain on the left.
MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS CULTURES

What do Japan’s hikikomori reveal about our lonely world?

Unemployed and isolated, the residents of a hikikomori rehab centre hold up a mirror to a society that’s failing them

by Alain Julian

Shadows on a wall, showing silhouettes of people and plants. A chair and a plug socket are partially visible.
VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION

Sticks and stones and words

A smart, educated woman, there’s no way I could have ended up in an abusive relationship, could I?

by Zoe Michaels

Guides

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A woman inside wearing sunglasses, with a blurred reflection of people and a red bus moving outside the window.
ADHD

How to thrive as an adult with ADHD

Use ‘mindful self-coaching’ to help yourself overcome everyday ADHD challenges, from procrastination to feelings of overwhelm

by Lidia Zylowska & Joohee Seo

A person in a green shirt and jeans sitting, focused on their hands which are clasped together, the right hand picking at the left hand’s thumbnail.
OCD

What to do if your picking or pulling get out of hand

Understanding the psychology behind excessive skin-picking and hair-pulling can help you resist the urges and begin to heal

by Suzanne Mouton-Odum

Popular

Painting of a woman in a dark kimono with a bow in her hair, looking at her reflection in a dimly lit mirror.
SHAME AND GUILT

Self-hatred feeds on inner shame. Here’s how to break the cycle

Shame swamps any redeeming traits you might have thought you had. Slow down to interrupt the loops that cause self-hatred

by Troy Seagraves

A person using a smartphone, with focus on their finger scrolling the screen. Face partially visible.
ADHD

In an era of split attention, there is more than one type of ADHD

ADHD is typically thought to be wired into the brain early. But many cases may be better seen as products of digital life

by Paul Kudlow, Karline Treurnicht Naylor & Elia Abi-Jaoude

A woman inside wearing sunglasses, with a blurred reflection of people and a red bus moving outside the window.
ADHD

How to thrive as an adult with ADHD

Use ‘mindful self-coaching’ to help yourself overcome everyday ADHD challenges, from procrastination to feelings of overwhelm

by Lidia Zylowska & Joohee Seo

A person lying in bed under a duvet, arms covering face; bedside table with books, a lamp, a mug and reading glasses.
SLEEP PROBLEMS

Sleep is important, but not that important

It’s good that we’re taking sleep more seriously than we used to, but the messaging about its importance has gone too far

by Alice Gregory

A person in a green shirt and jeans sitting, focused on their hands which are clasped together, the right hand picking at the left hand’s thumbnail.
OCD

What to do if your picking or pulling get out of hand

Understanding the psychology behind excessive skin-picking and hair-pulling can help you resist the urges and begin to heal

by Suzanne Mouton-Odum

A person with a backpack hiking through a dense forest towards a rocky riverbank.
DEPRESSION

In the hole

A metaphor for depression became a catalyst, and I started to reinvent my approach to suffering

by Tasha Eichenseher

Photo of a hand holding a glass of whisky with ice next to a bottle on a wooden surface, dimly lit setting.
ADDICTION

Does it still make sense to call addiction a ‘brain disease’?

The popular brain-disease model was meant to reduce stigma and explain addiction. It’s time to check whether it’s delivered

by Chrysanthi Blithikioti & Ioana Alina Cristea

A person with long blonde hair in a beanie and coat, facing away from the camera, wearing a brown backpack in a blurred busy street.
BIPOLAR DISORDER

How to anticipate and cope with mania

If you have bipolar disorder, you can learn to play an active role in managing your symptoms and live a fulfilling life

by Kim Pape & Sheri Johnson

Popular

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Painting of a woman in a dark kimono with a bow in her hair, looking at her reflection in a dimly lit mirror.
SHAME AND GUILT

Self-hatred feeds on inner shame. Here’s how to break the cycle

Shame swamps any redeeming traits you might have thought you had. Slow down to interrupt the loops that cause self-hatred

by Troy Seagraves

A person using a smartphone, with focus on their finger scrolling the screen. Face partially visible.
ADHD

In an era of split attention, there is more than one type of ADHD

ADHD is typically thought to be wired into the brain early. But many cases may be better seen as products of digital life

by Paul Kudlow, Karline Treurnicht Naylor & Elia Abi-Jaoude

A woman inside wearing sunglasses, with a blurred reflection of people and a red bus moving outside the window.
ADHD

How to thrive as an adult with ADHD

Use ‘mindful self-coaching’ to help yourself overcome everyday ADHD challenges, from procrastination to feelings of overwhelm

by Lidia Zylowska & Joohee Seo

A person lying in bed under a duvet, arms covering face; bedside table with books, a lamp, a mug and reading glasses.
SLEEP PROBLEMS

Sleep is important, but not that important

It’s good that we’re taking sleep more seriously than we used to, but the messaging about its importance has gone too far

by Alice Gregory

Videos

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ANXIETY

Stressed about a date or an interview? Video games may offer a surprising salve

Video by the University of California

A woman with a headset giving a presentation. She gestures with her hand. The background is wood paneling.
PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH

Why the mental health awareness movement needs more precision and fewer vibes

Two people lying on a snowy road in winter clothing with a forested landscape in the background.
GRIEF

Frøydis faces an impossible problem – how to grieve a father she hated and loved

A woman and a man converse while seated on chairs in a room with plants. A decorative table with glasses is between them.
EMERGING THERAPIES

The critic inside your head has something important to tell you. Here’s how to listen

Illustration of a room with a person lounging on a bed, a pink dresser, a table with cups and a plant.
AUTISM

A mysterious black orb trails Mo, growing ever harder to ignore

Photo of a man holding a microphone and equipment standing on a walkway with blurred people passing by in the foreground.
LONELINESS

Lonely in London, a filmmaker sets out to make a new friend

Shadow of a person on crumpled paper in dark setting photo.
TRAUMA AND PTSD

Sent to boarding school, a boy conjures up a friend to soothe his distress

People dancing closely in dim lighting. The focus is on movement and atmosphere at a night event.
SHAME AND GUILT

Footloose in Havana

In China, I was used to treating my body like a problem. In Cuba, everyone seemed at home in theirs

Syren Chan, as told to Lavender Au

Sketch of a woman in historic attire with hands clasped, head bowed, drawn on gridded paper.
SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE

For the Puritans, embracing God’s will could get dangerous

The group at the heart of American origin stories had a complex relationship with despair – and a need to reckon with it

by Alexandra M Lord

Photo of a hand holding a glass of whisky with ice next to a bottle on a wooden surface, dimly lit setting.
ADDICTION

Does it still make sense to call addiction a ‘brain disease’?

The popular brain-disease model was meant to reduce stigma and explain addiction. It’s time to check whether it’s delivered

by Chrysanthi Blithikioti & Ioana Alina Cristea

A person using a smartphone, with focus on their finger scrolling the screen. Face partially visible.
ADHD

In an era of split attention, there is more than one type of ADHD

ADHD is typically thought to be wired into the brain early. But many cases may be better seen as products of digital life

by Paul Kudlow, Karline Treurnicht Naylor & Elia Abi-Jaoude

A man in an outdoor ice bath, clasping his hands and wearing a smartwatch.
EVALUATING THERAPIES

Do we really need breathwork gurus to tell us how to breathe?

Breathing was once a natural reflex. How did it become a high-stakes biohacking ritual taught by wellness celebrities?

by Oriana Walker

Black and white close-up photo of a person’s arm showing skin texture and pigment and shadows; protruding ribs are visible behind the arm.
EATING DISORDERS

A ghost in limbo

Two decades of anorexia obscured who I was beneath my sickness. Then a stranger saw me

by Miranda Gold

Painting of a woman in a dark kimono with a bow in her hair, looking at her reflection in a dimly lit mirror.
SHAME AND GUILT

Self-hatred feeds on inner shame. Here’s how to break the cycle

Shame swamps any redeeming traits you might have thought you had. Slow down to interrupt the loops that cause self-hatred

by Troy Seagraves

A white wolf standing on a rocky surface with a grassy background, tongue out, looking forward.
HUMANISTIC AND EXISTENTIAL THERAPY

Alone with a she-wolf

Time slowed and adrenaline kicked in. The creature studied me, just another element in nature

by Melanie McGrath

A person with long blonde hair in a beanie and coat, facing away from the camera, wearing a brown backpack in a blurred busy street.
BIPOLAR DISORDER

How to anticipate and cope with mania

If you have bipolar disorder, you can learn to play an active role in managing your symptoms and live a fulfilling life

by Kim Pape & Sheri Johnson

A person with a backpack hiking through a dense forest towards a rocky riverbank.
DEPRESSION

In the hole

A metaphor for depression became a catalyst, and I started to reinvent my approach to suffering

by Tasha Eichenseher

A Miami Beach police car with flashing lights surrounded by people and photographers at night.
TRAUMA AND PTSD

Gun world

Is it possible to feel grief and survivor’s guilt after a mass shooting that didn’t occur?

by Jess Keefe

Hands holding freshly picked blackberries, with a background of green leaves and a black and white spotted dress.
EATING DISORDERS

Sweetness and light

After years of subsisting on protein bars and iceberg lettuce, berry-picking brought me home to my body

by Jamie Cattanach

Four people swimming in a lake surrounded by foggy hills under a cloudy sky.
BODY-BASED THERAPY

How to take the plunge – from cold showers to icy swims

There’s growing evidence for the psychological and health benefits of cold-water immersion. Here’s how to get started

by Jenny Favell

Two people walking through a park with trees casting shadows. A bench is visible.
ADDICTION

The last blackout

Getting sober meant facing myself without the fog, and finding new ways to be gentle inside

by Michael Thomas Kincella

A child looking out a window, hand pressed against the glass, supported by an adult holding their back, in a warmly lit room with partially-closed curtains.
OCD

Fears about being a dangerous or immoral person can fuel OCD

Intrusive thoughts about doing bad things are common, but for people with OCD they provoke deep fears about the self

by Richard Moulding & Kelvin (Shiu Fung) Wong

Photo of a cupcake with white icing and orange sprinkles in a yellow wrapper against a bright yellow background.
EATING DISORDERS

How to enjoy food without feeling guilty about it

Through mindful eating and a shift in mindset, you can alleviate unwarranted negative feelings and embrace the joy of food

by Vivienne Lewis