Originally posted on PLOS ECR by Jessica Brown What kind of mental image springs to mind upon reading the word ‘schizophrenia’? Many envisage an individual locked in a dark institution, constantly plagued by non-existent voices and vivid hallucinations. Even as a final year BSc Biology student with a neuroscience research placement under my belt, I … Continue reading Cognition in schizophrenia: a missing piece of the therapeutic puzzle
Have you noticed that people are weirdly enthused about the Kon Mari method of de-cluttering? Maybe you yourself are a convert? I hate tidying. So I thought the Netflix series seemed vaguely absurd. But I was quickly drawn in. I read the book - just out of curiosity too. And I think I’ve started to … Continue reading Marie Kondo and Metacognitive Therapy: what life-changing magic do ‘spark joy’ and ‘leave it alone’ have in common?
“What is your biggest flaw?” .. “Oh, well I am just SUCH a perfectionist!” Undeniably one of the most cliché and eye-roll inducing answers to this classic interview question, declaring yourself a perfectionist is often viewed as a humble brag. Most people think perfectionism is just admitting everything you do has to be just right, … Continue reading Perfectionism and Me
Originally published on DigiECR “Someone is monitoring me through my phone”. Is this a reasonable statement about modern life or a symptom of psychosis? Depending on the context, it could be either. In the age of smart egg trays, wifi enabled toasters and global surveillance, it is perhaps not unreasonable to imagine that at least … Continue reading What do giraffes and broccoli have to do with mental health research?
Aged 12, I was a reluctant violin student. So great was my frustration with the instrument that I used to frequently picture throwing the violin against the wall and watching as the wood twisted and splintered into an unrecognisable mess. Despite the frequency and vividness of this mental image, I never acted on the thought. … Continue reading A reluctant violin student
You may have noticed that since Monday 3rd June, 2019 between the hours of 9pm and 10pm Sunday – Friday, the world seems a strangely quiet place. The answer to this lies in ITV2’s summer scheduling which importantly includes the return of love island. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, the premise is … Continue reading “It is what it is”
Trigger warnings: mental health, depression, anxiety A friend recently asked me whether I think people need a mental health diagnosis (of depression, anxiety or something else) before they should consider seeking support in the form of therapy. In other words, do I think there is any value for people who are experiencing mental health difficulties, … Continue reading Is it worth the wait? Thoughts on seeking mental health support with or without a diagnosis
Wet Wet Wet were on the money with ‘Love Is All Around’ - the idea that humans are designed to come in pairs is almost inescapable. Films and books are laced with romantic liaisons. Musicians wax lyrical falling in love (or lust), heartbreak and toxic exes. Magazine covers promise tips for ‘The Best Sex You've … Continue reading What’s love got to do with it? The relevance of researching relationships and mental health
*This article discusses suicide, please take care of yourself when reading and see various avenues of support at the bottom if you are affected by any of the issues discussed* Author: Leanne Cook I work as a Research Assistant in suicide research at the University of Manchester, which puts me among a group of people … Continue reading The trouble with committing: changing the way we talk about suicide
Author: Beccy White It was only when I finished the final page of this book that it struck me how appropriate its unappealing state was. The copy I had been reading was third hand (at least) and in poor condition – the cover was peeling off and dirty, the pages were dog eared and, in … Continue reading Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman
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