New Year New AnxietyWhy the New Year Can Trigger Anxiety for Many People Uncertainty and change are two of the biggest triggers behind the anxiety people experience while making their way into January. By Devrupa Rakshit
Perfectionism Is Injurious to Everything.Perfectionism Is Counterproductive and Leads to Depression, Research Shows Researchers are advocating for "excellencism," instead, which involves "making a list of reasonable goals, with clear markers of success." By Devrupa Rakshit
Marked For DeathThree Students Died By Suicide at a Coaching Center. Competitive Exam Systems Are Complicit Standardized exams cater to a vision of meritocracy that doesn’t exist. It speaks to the flaws of a pedagogy that pits children against one another. By Rohitha Naraharisetty
Childhood BaggageHow Childhood Experiences Can Influence People’s Drinking Habits Compared to men, alcohol use disorder was found to be more common among women who had adverse childhood experiences. By Devrupa Rakshit
old young peopleStudy Observes Rapid Aging in Teenagers’ Brain Scans Post‑Lockdown The effects are similar to those previously observed as a result of violence, neglect, and family dysfunction. By Amlan Sarkar
BRB. Switching Modes.‘Goblin Mode’ – Oxford’s Word of the Year – Signals the Era of the Anti‑Aesthetic "[Goblin mode] is about a complete lack of aesthetic. Because why would a goblin care what they look like? Why would a goblin care about presentation?" By Devrupa Rakshit
Compulsion for ClutterHoarding Disorder is on the Rise. Is Capitalism to Blame? Hoarding highlights our complex relationship with material possessions – shaped by a capitalist culture that perpetuates increased consumption of goods. By Ananya Singh
Don't Kill the Happy PillThere’s Still No Scientific Consensus Linking Serotonin With Depression. Why Did the Theory Get So Popular? “I believe we are in the phase of mental health care where we recognize that we may have to discard old findings, modify the existing ones and research newer possibilities." By Rohitha Naraharisetty
All Eyes On MeWhy Some People Are Convinced They’re Constantly Being Recorded, Watched Called the 'Truman Show Delusion,' this is a form of persecutory psychosis that renders people unable to discern reality from imagination. By Devrupa Rakshit
Swear To God!Why Swearing Can Make Us Sound More Convincing, According to Science An analysis of 100 papers on swearing revealed it to be "undeniably different from and more powerful than other forms of language use." By Devrupa Rakshit
Looming CrisisSevere, Long‑Term Depression Can Reduce People’s Brain Volumes: Study Chronic, severe depression "reduce[d] volume in brain regions relevant for executive and cognitive functions and emotion regulation." By Devrupa Rakshit
Fake It Till You Make It?Can the Act of Smiling Really Trick Us Into Feeling Happy? "[An] accelerated heart can make people feel anxious... furrowed brow can make them feel angry... stretch of a smile can make them feel happy.” By Devrupa Rakshit
Down The Spending HoleHow Phone Addiction May Be Linked to Compulsive Shopping Behaviors "[T]he association... might be mediated by smartphone-induced flow experiences and mood regulation activities using smartphones." By Devrupa Rakshit
Corporate Cop OutEmployee Wellness Programs Can’t Fix a Broken System Whose goals are central to the therapeutic process – the employer’s, or the employee’s? By Rohitha Naraharisetty
Am I Enough?How Shaming Women for Their Choices Breeds Lifelong Self‑Doubt Breaking away from the cycle of shame and self-doubt – without succumbing to the demands of patriarchy – isn’t easy. By Devrupa Rakshit
If Bacteria Could Talk...How Bacteria in People’s Saliva Can Show if They’re Having Suicidal Thoughts "We hope this line of research could help predict suicidal ideation... and could inform [different] treatments for those at risk." By Devrupa Rakshit
Bas Karo PaajiHow Kapil Dev Dismissing Mental Illnesses as Fads Actively Harms People Given how much Indians idolize and emulate celebrities, Kapil Dev trivializing mental health sets a poor example for his fans. By Devrupa Rakshit
Not Again!How ‘Phubbing’ Ruins Relationships, According to Science Phubbing can make physical interactions less satisfying -- not just for the ones being phubbed, but also for the ones indulging in it. By Devrupa Rakshit