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MENTAL HEALTH

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Feeling a bit off? Your ‘tiny t’ traumas could be to blame

When we think about the concept of trauma, we often think of big, life-changing events. You know – the kind of stuff that not only impacts us in the short term but leaves long-lasting emotional and psychological scars. But these ‘big T’ traumas – as they are sometimes referred to by psychologists – are not the only kind of traumas that exist. Indeed, while many people will go through life without being affected by a big T trauma, we’ll all be exposed to what are called ‘tiny t’ traumas – the sma
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How to advocate for yourself during a mental health appointment with your GP

Anyone who’s ever thought about seeking professional help for their mental health will know how daunting that first GP appointment can be. As much as you want things to change, the idea of sitting in front of a relative stranger and telling them about what’s going on inside your head can be challenging – especially when you’re worried about what they might think. However, no matter how scary that initial appointment may seem, talking to your GP about how you’re feeling is one of the most importa
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5 simple ways to look after your mental health as the days grow shorter

It may only be mid-October, but it seems like it’s been ages since we were soaking in the long, hot days of summer. Now, autumn is here, and all we’ve got to deal with is the wet weather, piles of fallen leaves and dark mornings and evenings. And with winter fast approaching, it won’t be long until things are feeling properly chilly, too. However, while some people relish the opportunity to curl up under a blanket and spend the long, cold nights enjoying some brilliant autumn TV or diving into a
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3 easy ways to soothe your nervous system when you’re feeling overwhelmed

We’ve all had those days when trying to relax proves more difficult than usual – when your body feels charged with electricity and you struggle to shake off the excess pressure in your chest. It’s frustrating, to say the least – especially when you just want to rest after a busy or stressful day. But just because relaxation feels farther away than usual, doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You just need to tackle that stressed-out feeling at its physiological source – aka your nervous system. While a
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What does ‘good mental health’ actually mean in 2022?

In Stylist’s digital series Picture of Health, we investigate what health looks like for women today – from redefining mental health and fitness, to examining issues around race and disability inclusivity. For investigations, first-person essays and features check here. When you think of someone with ‘good mental health’, what do you imagine? At first thought, you might picture someone with a big smile on their face – someone who’s able to navigate the world with relative ease. The reality, howe
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“Why does being asked if you’re OK make you suddenly… not OK?”

If you’ve ever burst out in tears after a (well-meaning) friend asked you whether you were OK, you’ll know what I’m talking about. We’ve all had those moments where we’re fine one minute and a mess the next, and while it always feels nice to let everything out, it can also be a bit of a shock to the system. So, why do questions like ‘are you OK?’ have the power to break down those emotional boundaries? Are we always more close to tears than we think, or is it just that our friends have the power
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How to tell when it’s time to quit your job to protect your mental health

The height of the ‘great resignation’ may have been and gone, but its legacy will undoubtedly be around for some time to come. From ‘quiet quitting’ to setting boundaries, more and more employees are taking their wellbeing at work seriously – including leaving a job altogether if their workplace is proving detrimental to their mental health.

It goes without saying that protecting your mental health at work is incredibly important – not only do we spend a large portion of our time at work, but t
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“Am I really emotionally exhausted, or is Instagram just telling me so?”

When was the last time you stumbled upon an Instagram post that made you wonder whether you might be burnt out or diagnosed yourself with high-functioning anxiety after watching a TikTok? If you’ve been on social media at all recently, it probably hasn’t been long. In the age of peak self-awareness, social media content about mental health and emotional wellbeing is dominating our feeds more than ever before. On Instagram alone, the hashtag #MentalHealth has over 40 million posts, and on TikTok,
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Feeling disconnected from yourself? Your ‘emotional blindspots’ could be to blame

Knowing how to manage your emotions can make a big difference to your mental health. While no one can control how they feel, understanding your emotions – and having a toolkit of healthy coping mechanisms to turn to where necessary – can help you feel more stable. But despite all this, many of us continue to push aside, ignore or distract ourselves from emotions that make us feel low or uncomfortable.

How these emotional blind spots materialise – and the emotions they protect us from – will of
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A therapist explains why emotional numbness isn’t the same as feeling nothing

Getting to know your emotions can be surprisingly complex. Despite how big a role our emotions play in our lives on a day-to-day basis, many of us aren’t aware of the breadth and depth of our emotional states, from the existence of ‘meta-emotions’ to the fact that you can ‘catch’ other people’s emotions. In short, there’s a lot to learn. That’s especially true when it comes to emotional numbness. While you might presume that feeling flat, disconnected or plain old empty means your emotions are b
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Why it’s time to change the way we talk about people taking antidepressants

As someone whose job requires spending a lot of time online, I can often predict what the reaction to a story will be as soon as I read the headline. So, when I saw the recent news that the number of adults taking antidepressants has increased by nearly half a million over the last year, I felt a sense of dread. Over the last decade, the increase in the number of people taking antidepressants has repeatedly been painted as some kind of societal failure, and it didn’t take long for that same resp
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How to tell the difference between stress and anxiety (and why it’s important)

The last couple of months have been particularly chaotic, even by post-2020 standards. From the record-breaking heatwave and a Conservative party leadership contest to the overturning of Roe v Wade and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the world feels pretty relentless right now – and chances are you’re feeling more stressed and anxious as a result. However, although you’ve probably seen the words ‘stress’ and ‘anxiety’ interchangeably in the past, they actually have distinct differences.

With
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“My GP didn’t take my eating disorder seriously – it’s time we invested in more training”

Deciding to seek help when you’re suffering from an eating disorder can be incredibly difficult; more so, when the professional who’s supposed to help you fails to recognise the extent of the challenge you’re facing. But that’s a reality patients across the UK continue to face. In response, a number of new campaigns are being launched to provide those on the frontline of the UK’s healthcare
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“I’m sick of Prince Harry pretending good mental health is all about effort”

Since stepping down as a senior member of the royal family over two years ago, Prince Harry has made a name for himself as a vocal mental health advocate. From opening up about the struggles he’s personally faced to raising awareness of the benefits of therapy, the Duke of Sussex has brought conversations about mental health to the forefront. But despite how refreshing it is to see such a public figure talking in this way, there’s always been something about the way Harry approaches the subject
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What the government’s new Mental Health Bill really means – and why it matters

The government will invest £150 million into NHS mental health services over the next three years in a bid to improve patient care, it was announced yesterday (27 June). The reforms, which were laid out in the government’s draft Mental Health Bill, are based on the recommendations of a 2019 review of the 1983 Mental Health Act, which recommended that patients be given more choices when it comes their care. The draft bill, which will now be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny, also puts greater f
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Thousands of women are being given “dangerous” electric shock treatment for their mental health

Thousands of women in England are being given “dangerous” electric shock treatment for mental health issues – despite warnings that it can cause irreparable brain damage and memory loss. NHS data seen by The Independent reveals that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is disproportionately prescribed to women, who make up two-thirds of the patients being given the treatment. The figures – which were obtained via Freedom of Information requests made by Dr John Read, a professor at the University of E
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Why it’s time to make ‘everyday mental maintenance’ part of your routine

Whether you schedule regular trips to the gym, make an effort to eat nutritious food or use supplements to ensure your body has everything it needs, taking conscious steps to take care of our physical health is something most of us do on a daily basis. However, when it comes to our mental health, the idea of taking daily steps to promote better wellbeing is a lot less common. We’ve all got self-care routines we turn to when we’re feeling rubbish – but what about when you’re feeling OK? While the
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How to deal with ‘pleasanteeism’, the toxic behaviour that’s harming our wellbeing

We all want to be perceived well at work – but have you ever stopped to wonder whether the way you behave in front of your colleagues could be taking its toll on your mental health? There’s nothing wrong with trying to be professional, but going out of your way to put on a ‘brave face’ and hide when you’re feeling sad, stressed or angry – also known as ‘pleasanteeism’ – can actually make you feel worse in the long-run. It’s why bottling up our emotions can be so damaging – when we deny ourselves
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What happens inside our brains when we’re feeling lonely?

Loneliness is one of those emotions that can be hard to define. While we’ve all felt lonely at one point or another, it can be hard to describe exactly how it feels – and it has the tendency to pop up at some seemingly random moments, like when you’re surrounded by people at a social event or at certain times of the year, such as Christmas. But underneath the surface, loneliness is a lot more logical than you might expect. And understanding why and how loneliness works can make it seem less over
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These powerful photos shine a light on the reality of perinatal mental health issues

While conversations about mental health have increased over the last couple of years, the unique mental health challenges many people face during pregnancy and in the postnatal period have often been overlooked. The reality, however, is that 10-20% of pregnant people experience mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year after pregnancy – and suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the UK within a year after childbirth. This lack of awareness also contributes t
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13 easy ways to switch off from work at the end of a long day

While the boundaries between work and home may not be quite as blurred as they were during the pandemic for those of us who have returned to the office part or full time, switching off from ‘work mode’ at the end of a long day can still be pretty tough. If you’re the type of person who feels the urge to check your emails on the train home or finds yourself running the day’s events over in your head while you get ready for bed, you’ll know what we’re talking about – even when you don’t mean to, t
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