Inspire the Mind ✍️🧠

The Quiet Room: A Short Story Author’s Note: My name is Dave Brennan, and I am a writer and mental health professional based in the United States. I live with my own experiences of depression and anxiety, which have shaped both my...

In today’s #shortstory The Quiet Room, writer and #mentalhealth professional Dave Brennan reveals how small moments of #connection can spark a sense of #belonging and #hope in #psychiatriccare.

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/the-qui...

Making Bipolar Disorder More Manageable: Using sleep patterns to predict mood swings Sleep is incredibly important – for everyone. We all know the impact of a good night’s sleep: it can set us up for a great day or make everything feel more difficult. But, most of us recover quickly f...

In today’s article, @kingsioppn.bsky.social PhD student Andrea Ulrichsen unpicks the #research on the links between #sleep and #bipolardisorder, exploring whether sleep patterns can help predict mood episodes and create opportunities for timely interventions.

www.inspirethemind.org/post/making-...

From Dry Land to Death and Back Again—The Ferry from Phu Quoc The wooden pier stretched ahead in the morning sunlight, its tip a distant dot poking out against the sea. We followed the stream of backpacks single-file like a line of ants, the wind lashing choppy ...

In today's article, Carla McCannon recounts a traumatic #experience aboard a ferry in #Vietnam, and highlights the #copingmechanisms she and her sister used to get through the event.

Read now:
www.inspirethemind.org/post/from-dr...

Are you interested writing about how #societalconflicts and crises impact your #mentalhealth?

Submit a pitch using the form on our website (link in post) for consideration.

(Further details can be found in the attached image).

#JournoRequest

www.inspirethemind.org/submit-a-pitch

How I Reclaimed My Sexuality After Trauma Sexual violence invades countless lives each year, all around the world. For me, it crashed into my life numerous times in the form of childhood sexual abuse and repeated sexual assaults in my teen an...

To conclude our series for #SexualHealthWeek, Hannah Shewan Stevens shares her experience of reclaiming #sexuality after #trauma.

Read now:

www.inspirethemind.org/post/how-i-r...

Inducing Paranoia: Using THC to decode the mechanisms underlying psychosis The 19th Century French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau is often credited as one of the first scientists to systematically study the effects of psychoactive substances on the mind.

Today researcher Amir Eglund in collaboration with Syeda Tahir, Mitul Mehta, and Joseph Barnby discusses the use of #THC to decode the mechanisms underlying #psychosis, highlighting a new #project to uncover this topic.

@wellcometrust.bsky.social

Read now:
www.inspirethemind.org/post/inducin...

In today’s article, journalist Ashika George challenges the viral trend of “letting the intrusive thoughts win” on social media, drawing on her own #livedexperience to shed light on its impact on people living with #OCD.

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/i-hate-...

"Our connection fought through intensities of the mind and panic in our hearts and still reached for one another in the end.”

Read more, as writer Samantha Wood pens her thoughts on #anxiety and #relationships from her own experience:

www.inspirethemind.org/post/bonded-...

Health Literacy for Pregnant Women with Limited English in the UK A new health literacy programme in East London aims to improve pregnancy experiences for women who don’t speak English.In the United Kingdom, approximately one-third of births are to mothers who thems...

In today’s article, @kingsioppn.bsky.social researcher Madeline Benton discusses a health #literacy programme for #pregnant women with limited English in the UK.

Read now:

www.inspirethemind.org/post/health-...

Racism, Violence, and Belonging in Britain Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and violence which some readers may find distressing. On Tuesday 9th September, a South Asian Sikh woman in her twenties was raped by ...

In light of recent events in the UK surrounding #antiimmigration protests and a sexual assault on a #Sikh woman, psychology graduate and ITM editor Samrina Sangha pens her thoughts as a young #SouthAsian woman, ending with a message of #solidarity.

Read now:
www.inspirethemind.org/post/racism-...

OCD, Avoidance and Reproductive Healthcare I’m sure nobody looks forward to their gynecology appointment, but for most, it’s a necessary–if not a bit uncomfortable–fact of life. However, for myself and I’m sure many others, mental illness has ...

In the third article of our #sexuahealthweek series, writer Megan Hunt opens up about how living with #OCD affected her #sexualhealth - breaking the silence on an often-overlooked topic, to support and empower others navigating a similar journey.

Read now:
www.inspirethemind.org/post/ocd-avo...

Reimagining Feedback for Mental Wellbeing in an Academic Environment As the Programme Lead for the MSc Neuroscience at King’s College, I often engage with students.When I speak with our MSc Neuroscience students, one theme emerges consistently: feedback shapes not just...

In today’s article, Dr Eammon Walsh, programme lead for the MSc Neuroscience at King’s College London @kingsioppn.bsky.social, explores how rethinking academic #feedback can better support #academicsuccess, as well as student and staff #wellbeing.

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/reimagi...

The Solution to Cringe Culture is Autism 'To cringe' can be defined as ‘having an inward feeling of acute embarrassment or awkwardness.’ This is a perfectly natural human reaction to seeing, hearing or touching something that makes us uncomf...

“Would you rather ignore the eyes of judgemental strangers and be happy, or stuff yourself into a box and appear to fit in?”
 
An excerpt from today’s article, where Ashleigh Tompkins discusses how #autistic perspectives can help us challenge #cringeculture.

www.inspirethemind.org/post/the-sol...

Reclaiming Pleasure After Medical Trauma: What No One Tells You How breast cancer treatment changed my relationship with my body—and how I'm learning to reconnect with it. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my primary focus was survival. I braced myself for ...

In today’s article, writer Rachel LaBella shares her experience on reclaiming #pleasure after a #breastcancer diagnosis, highlighting the small but meaningful steps she took in her journey.

#sexualhealthweek

@brookchairyt.bsky.social

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/reclaim...

Chronic Bladder Infections Made Me Feel Dirty, Boring, and Alone… At 21, I had a series of urinary tract infections that culminated in a bladder surgery. These infections affected me physically—the post-op pelvic floor physical therapy was brutal—but the greatest im...

In the first of a series of articles for #sexualhealthweek, writer Haley Young reflects on how recurrent #UTIs impacted her physical, mental, and #sexualhealth, highlighting the importance of raising #awareness.

@brookcharity.bsky.social

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/chronic...

Drinking Culture Among Young People Good news! Young people in general are drinking less than older generations did and still do: around one-quarter of 16 to 24-year-olds don’t drink at all, compared with just over one-fifth of the broa...

Why is alcohol tempting for #teenagers? In today’s article, writer Rachel Kelly breaks down the science and shares ways to foster a healthier #drinking culture among #youth.

#alcoholeducation #youthhealth #drinkresponsibly

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/drinkin...

Fostering cats is so rewarding, it's like free therapy Trigger Warning: This post contains mention of suicide and mental health struggles, which may be distressing for some readers. Please take care of yourself and consider skipping this content if it may...

“While this sounds completely selfless, I see it as a wholly symbiotic process, whereby I get just as much in return.”

An excerpt from today’s article, where writer Jennifer Sizeland shares how #FosteringCats supported her #MentalHealth during tough times.

www.inspirethemind.org/post/fosteri...

Lithium and bipolar disorder: from the 1940s to treatment today From lithium's (re)discovery to a gold standard in treatment: how an Australian psychiatrist's bold experiment reshaped psychiatryDuring the last few years, my studies focused on the lithium mechanism...

In today's article, researcher Kosma Sakrajda uncovers #lithium as a treatment for #bipolardisorder, highlighting how psychiatrist John Cade's work in the 1940s led to immense advancements in #psychiatry.

Read now:
www.inspirethemind.org/post/lithium...

Weaving Art, Reflection, and Solidarity into Healing Creating space for survivors of abuse: in a one-day workshop on coercive control, we explored what it means to reflect, create, and reclaim space – together.In January 2024, the Violence, Abuse and Me...

Today's collaborative article, led by Prof @sianoram.bsky.social highlights how #art, #reflection, and #solidarity can be weaved into healing, reflecting on a workshop facilitated by the @vamhn.bsky.social.

@kingsioppn.bsky.social

Read now:

www.inspirethemind.org/post/weaving...

Balancing Grief and Hope: My Trying to Conceive Journey After Loss Trying to conceive (TTC) after a loss is its own kind of heartbreak. Not just because of what you’ve been through, but because of what you’re still hoping for. Every month becomes a question mark. Eve...

In today’s article, writer Tassia O’Callaghan shares her #journey trying to conceive after #pregnancyloss, and the steps she’s taking to support her #mentalhealth along the way.

‪@tommyscharity.bsky.social‬

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/balanci...

Finding Grace in Building F Disclaimer: All names used in this piece do not reflect the real names of the individuals involved.                               The pillow was almost as flat as I was. Almost as hollow and thin. I h...

In today's article, #Psychotherapist Emily Randall shares her experience of her time on a Psychiatric #InpatientWard in the USA, reflecting on how her experience influences #Empathy in her career.

Read now:

www.inspirethemind.org/post/finding...

Binge-Watching: How Our TV Habits Shape Our Brains and Mental Health Streaming services have dominated the television and film distribution space over the last decade. With its rise, streaming powerhouses like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ brought with them a novel...

Why can’t we stop hitting “next episode”?

In today’s article, PhD student @melisakose.bsky.social‬ unpacks the #Science behind #BingeWatching, and how changes in streaming culture can affect our #Brain and #MentalHealth. @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/binge-w...

From Patient to Partner The path through mental illness can be isolating, disorienting, and equally profoundly transformative. For those of us who have navigated the complexities of psychosis, crisis care, and prolonged inte...

In today's article, @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social PhD student Jason Grant-Knowles highlights his journey into the world of #Patient&PublicInolvement, discussing the depth that #LivedExperience can add to theoretical #Knowledge.

Read now:

www.inspirethemind.org/post/from-pa...

Finding Your Roots: It’s Okay to Start Over I lost myself some time ago.  I searched in vain until I found her in my bedroom mirror. Nineteen years later.

In today’s article, Melina Belén shares her powerful #HealingJourney — navigating family difficulties, abuse, and unhealthy coping mechanisms — and how returning to her homeland helped her reconnect with her #Roots and find #Peace.

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/finding...

As this is a short story pitch, submissions must be fiction. Past published stories have been inspired by real-life experiences, but are fictionalised. Non-fiction pieces may be better suited under our Lived Experience category.

We look forward to your submission!

📣ANNOUNCEMENT:
We are currently accepting #ShortStory pitches for our digital magazine. Please note that the pitch should indicate that the story includes an aspect of #MentalHealth.

Submit a pitch via the form on our homepage.

#JournoRequest

inspirethemind.org

The Anxiety of Good Things Recently, I have started a great job in communications, set up a decent writing business, and earned a journalism degree. I am also dating the most beautiful woman in the world, who has all three: the...

In today’s article, writer and journalist Tezor Dedam reflects on how the #Anxiety of losing good things can stop us from enjoying them and why it is important to accept #Uncertainty to truly experience #Happiness.

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/the-anx...

The Neural Highway – A Short Story On most Monday mornings, the parking lots buzzed with a certain vigor. They chattered about all the messages they’d received. Some of them gathered to discuss the ones they had sent. I didn’t really k...

In today’s #ShortStory, writer Gargi Mehra brings brain chemistry to life through the metaphor of a neural highway — showing how #Serotonin and #Dopamine shape our mood, and how #SSRIs help clear the path toward recovery.

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/the-neu...

Becoming: Restarting Life at 30 How I reclaimed my dreams, redefined success, and found myself again 25/5/25 - A date so precise it feels like destiny carved it into the calendar just for me. Not merely for its symmetry, but beca...

In today’s article, @kingsioppn.bsky.social MSc student Razan Ghalayini reflects on her experience of the Psychology and Neuroscience of Mind Body Interface programme, led by @alessandraborsini.bsky.social

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www.inspirethemind.org/post/becomin...

It Took a Friend’s Suicide for Us to Start Talking About Mental Health Trigger Warning: The following article contains references to suicide and grief, which some readers may find distressingThe text came through on New Year’s Day, 2022. My partner would later inform me ...

In today’s article, freelance journalist ‪@elliotmarcsmith.bsky.social‬ reflects on how the #Grief of losing a friend to suicide sparked overdue conversations about #MentalHealth. A powerful call to #EndTheSilence and speak more openly.

Read now: www.inspirethemind.org/post/it-took...