Let's Talk Psychology

You heard me right: this theory is actually a myth! If you believed the chemical imbalance theory, don't feel foolish; this is an incredibly common misconception. I mean, doesn't it just sound so logical? When you have a general understanding of biology and you hear talk about "happy chemicals" in the brain, it's easy to believe. Too bad things aren't quite that simple. The truth is that no chemical imbalance has been proven to exist in relation to any kind of mental health disorder. Additionally, there is also no way to test for the presence or absence of a chemical imbalance; no blood test, no urine sample, no brain scan... nada. Researchers have been working for the past 40 years to find any sliver of supporting evidence for this theory - literally thousands of studies - and haven't found anything. And even if we did know what a chemical imbalance looks like, the likelihood that "mood" is controlled by one specific neurotransmitter is slim. Li...

What does it mean to "believe" in something, and what does this have to do with something actually happening? According to one of my mom's cheesy Hallmark movies, simply believing in the spirit of Christmas will get you a soulmate, a job promotion, and will help you save some small quaint town from greedy city businesspeople. Now, I wouldn't say this is the most realistic example of how believing can manifest results, but there is a small kernel of truth in the absurdity. This real-life magic trick has the fitting name of "the placebo effect," and lucky for you, I am a magician who keeps no secrets. Let me explain to you how it works. PLACEBO POWER A placebo is anything that seems like a real treatment or solution, but is actually useless and should (theoretically) have zero impact on you. Placebos can take many forms, such as a fake pill, shot, or any  other type of "treatment." Despite the lack of any active substance or impactful component in a ...

  Hey there, bud. You doing alright?  Everyone has good days and bad days, but it's super important that we continue to take care of ourselves even when we don't feel that great. We don't need to move mountains or push ourselves over our limits, but there are some things we can do to help us feel better. Here is a checklist of little things you can do to help you along through a bad day: Eat something. Be honest: have you had at least one good meal today? If you can, try to avoid only eating snack foods instead of more substantial and nutritional foods. And be sure to hydrate with plenty of water (especially if you have been crying). Your body will thank you later. A little exercise never hurt. Even if you don't feel like getting out of bed, at least try to get up and do a few good stretches or go on a short walk. Bonus points if you get some fresh air, too. Find something to make you laugh.  It can be literally whatever you want - playing with a pet, watching a funny...

After reading a title like that, I'm sure you have a ton of questions (as you should). How can a mental illness pick and choose which people it infects, and why is this mechanism tied to a person's culture and home region? It almost sounds more ridiculous than warding off a Sea Bear with a circle: First, if you haven't already read my previous article, "The Non-Existence of 'Normal,'" then I would suggest taking a quick look at that first (it may help things make a bit more sense). Second order of business: we need to distinguish the types of diseases we are talking about. This article will be focusing on the cultural impact upon mental disorders, not upon biological viruses or other medical conditions. So please do not misunderstand and think that if you don't believe in a virus (@ COVID) it will not kill you - it definitely still can. SAME NAME, DIFFERENT GAME We know that our fluid and undefinable concepts of what is "normal" affect the wa...

For many of us, we have always been taught to categorize things as "normal" or "abnormal." Everything you do or say or eat or like is weighed on this imaginary scale in our minds, so naturally we must have a clear and fool-proof way of defining what is "normal"... Yeah, that definition doesn't actually exist. And in all honesty, it probably won't ever exist. Our definition of what is normal and acceptable changes constantly, and is under heavy influence from factors, such as time period, culture, and even individuals. In the words of my Clinical Psychology textbook: "It can be the case that what is determined as abnormal or pathological at one point in time could have been very adaptive at another time." So, the big ticket question is this: how can psychology experts scientifically prove a behavior to be acceptable (normal) or a mental illness (abnormal)? Since our understanding of a concept like normality vs. abnormality isn't scienc...

There are thousands of articles on the internet about ways to relieve stress, and most of them boast about the same three or four boring strategies. But the truth is that there are many ways to help alleviate your stress and anxiety, and many of these coping mechanisms fall under one of the following three strategies: distraction, self-expression, and relaxation. Each category is special because each one has a unique underlying goal for you to achieve, and all of them have the potential to help you maintain a good mental state. In the following article, I'll provide both the pros and cons of each strategy and a short list of related example activities. My hope is that you find at least one approach that is a Cinderella-shoe type fit for you! DISTRACTION METHODS While it may initially sound like an unhealthy self-care goal, activities related to distraction are effective because they buy an individual time to take a step back, cool down and regroup. By taking a temporary break from ...

Are you interested in starting a journal, but not sure where to start? Don't be scared, you are not alone! Many people who are curious about journaling as a healthy outlet find themselves intimidated by that cold, heartless stare of a blank page.  Writing down your thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a book can be a truly great way to help you maintain a positive outlook on life and stay mentally healthy. And yet, trying to start one from scratch can be super daunting and awkward. Lucky for you, there are lots of really cool books that can help you grow more comfortable with writing and can turn a tedious-sounding activity into something genuinely fun. Here is a list of some genuinely interesting guided journals (all of which can be found with a quick search on Amazon). Don't be shy, check 'em out! 52 LISTS FOR HAPPINESS: WEEKLY JOURNALLING INSPIRATION FOR POSITIVITY, BALANCE, AND JOY  ---  MOOREA SEAL   If you don't feel quite ready to delve into writing lengthy paragr...

"Birdcage" By Marcia Diaz Let's start with a quick exercise to spice things up: I want to pick a single word to describe yourself to someone who has never met you. Okay, got one? Great, now I want you to reflect on your choice and ask yourself how much this word successfully represents and summarizes you as a person. Does this word tell the stranger about your childhood and family, or about your dreams, or explain anything about your beliefs and opinions? If you were able to find a single word that is the perfect, all-encompassing summary of your entire being, then congratulations: you have done the impossible. Now, let's apply this logic to when we meet someone who is suffering from a mental illness (for this example, we will say they are clinically depressed). What does the label of "depression" tell us about the person as a whole? Yup, not very much. Therefore, to say that a person can be defined or fully summarized by their mental disorder is super inacc...

I hate to break it to you, but your old Pop-Pop is right: kids these days DO handle their emotions differently than previous generations (I’ll spare you the rest of the “Back in my day...” speech). More specifically, recent research has shown that Gen Z young adults (who are currently between 15 and 21 years old) are less likely to report good mental health compared to other generations. But before we jump to any conclusions about what this means, let’s take a second to ask an important question: Why does this trend exist? Can we really chalk up an entire generation’s mental health issues to them simply being “too soft,” or is there something bigger going on here? Spoiler alert: it’s the latter. TAKING A WALK IN GEN Z SHOES One recurring theme in psychology is addressing the context or situation. So in this case, we want to look at what is the actual cause of Gen Z’s bad mental health. According to the APA, Gen Z adults are more likely than any other adults to report and experience chr...