We like to believe that our thoughts are reliable. After all, they come from our own minds, who else would know us better? Yet this assumption is often misleading. Not every thought we have is true, helpful, or even worth believing at times. Learning to question our thoughts, rather than automatically accepting them, is a crucial step toward better mental well-being. Our minds are constantly active, producing thousands of thoughts each day. Some are rational and grounded, but many are...

Emotional regulation, when you strip away the academic language, is really just about learning how to ride the ups and downs of our feelings without being completely thrown off course. It’s something I’ve come to appreciate not just through theory, but through everyday moments, and surprisingly, animals have played a big part in that. I’ve noticed that being around animals has a way of softening things. There’s something about a dog bounding over to greet you like you’re the best person in...

Recent reporting on maternity services in the UK has brought to light significant systemic problems affecting women and families, with implications not only for physical healthcare but also for emotional wellbeing and mental health. A major independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services in England, led by Baroness Valerie Amos, published an interim report this month. This report revealed widespread issues including concealment of harmful incidents, poor communication with...