Hello, and welcome to another blog post. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring season.  In this blog post, I wanted to discuss a psychiatric disorder that I am personally interested in, as well as a recently explored potential treatment avenue for this disorder. Within the field of psychology, psychosis has been defined as an abnormal mental state involving issues with “reality testing”, or one’s ability to distinguish between self and non-self, and fantasy and real life (American Psychological Association, n.d.). Psychosis is marked by impaired higher brain functions, in ..read more

Hello, and I hope everyone has been having a good week (and if not, know that there are good weeks to come). Today I wanted to write a blog post about a topic of personal interest: the use of psychedelic medication in the treatment of clinical depression. I first learned that psychedelics constitute a potential treatment avenue for depression back when I took a neuroscience course in the second year of my undergraduate degree. At the time, I found this mind-blowing and intriguing, as I had never considered the possibility that psychedelics (in controlled doses, prescribed by a professional) c ..read more

In a world that often celebrates flawlessness and achievement, the pressure to be perfect can feel discouraging. For the many who have grappled with perfectionism, at first, we never knew it. It’s hidden in the competitiveness of our modern culture. The constant striving for impossible standards, the fear of failure, and the never-ending cycle of self-criticism can be exhausting and disheartening. But through self-awareness, it’s possible to break free from the chains of perfectionism and find joy in embracing imperfection. Perfectionism, while often praised as a positive trait, can actually h ..read more

Change is the only constant. In embracing this notion, we understand that permanence eludes us, urging us to ready ourselves for moments beyond our control. Friedrich Nietzsche wrote about chaos, “You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” Chaos isn’t always negative; it can serve as a catalyst for quick thinking, aiding us when stranded alone in an unfamiliar city or facing a difficult exam without the burden of tiredness. However, just as a bit of stress can sharpen our performance at a public speaking event, there exists a flip side to stress — anxiety. The stress of a ..read more

Hello, and welcome to another blog post! I hope everyone has spent a wonderful spring break resting, recuperating, and spending time with their loved ones. Today, I wanted to write a blog post about one of my favourite topics within the field of psychology: Positive Psychology! Positive Psychology emphasizes psychological states such as joy, character strengths such as altruism, and social institutions that enhance subjective well-being and make life worth living (American Psychological Association, n.d.).  The historical founder of the Positive Psychology movement is Martin Seligman (Mi ..read more

Pikisuperstar on free-pick,illustration of packed moving boxes,ND Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik It is no secret that moving can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, whether it is just moving down the road or across the world. It can be a huge cause of anxiety for many reasons, including logistics, adaptation, fear of the unknown, anxiety surrounding unforeseen circumstances, and more. As someone who has moved from town to town, country to country, and is in the process of moving all the way across the world for the second time in two years, here are some of my tips and t ..read more

Image by Freepik (Freepik (n.d.). Mobile notification icons between man and woman. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/mobile-notification-icons-man-woman-using-cell-phone_2611196.htm) Social media has its merits: enabling global connections, providing information, and offering free entertainment. However, there’s a downside, especially for teenagers’ mental well-being. Influencers often heavily edit their photos which sets unrealistic beauty standards. This can trigger body dysmorphia and eating disorders in impressionable teens who may not realize the extent of these edits. Un ..read more

Hello everyone! I hope that you have all been staying warm and enjoying the start of winter. Along with the start of winter, some might find it difficult to maintain a positive mindset amidst the gloomy and cold temperatures. Additionally, winter can be a difficult time for some individuals in terms of mental health and general well-being. In view of this, today I wanted to dedicate a blog post to one of my favourite psychologists who developed a very interesting therapy style that has served benefits to myriad populations (Yao and Kabir, 2023). Carl R. Rogers is seen as a founder of the huma ..read more

Have you ever felt like you’re trapped in a cycle of making bad choices? I used to believe my decisions were conscious, but I found myself wondering why I consistently procrastinated before important events or milestones, or ended up dating the wrong people. It turns out some of these behaviors were tied to addiction – not to substances, but to the rush of chemicals in my brain. It’s like an “adrenaline rush,” but it’s constant and it comes with cortisol, norepinephrine, and other hormones that, when released in large amounts and for extended periods of time, can become toxic for your body. S ..read more

How Can We Practice Self-Care? Self-care is a practice of self-love that has existed for many years. With the rising “clean girl” trend on TikTok, self-care is a hashtag that has garnered immense popularity ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to USA Today, in 2019, Google searches for “self-care” had reached a 14-year high (Dastagir, 2019). With all the aesthetic images of bubble baths and face masks floating on Pinterest, it’s easy to forget that self-care is a broad term and includes several methods to take care of yourself. While using the occasional face mask is a good way to unwin ..read more