pop culture
Representations of mental health in pop culture; dissect and discuss popular psychology, mental illness stigmas, and media depictions.
The Daily Crime Against Your Own Brain
Feed your brain junk long enough and it starts acting like a suspect under pressure—fidgety, unreliable, and ready to snap. That isn’t poetry. It’s what shows up in psychological evaluations, probation reports, and medical charts across professions and age groups.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin5 months ago in Psyche
Riding the Middle Wave
Ever notice how people love to pick sides? It’s like we’re constantly asked to choose between two waves: you're either riding left or right, red or blue, good or bad. But here's the thing—life doesn’t work in black and white. It's mostly paddling through gray. And that’s where the trouble starts when we fall into a sneaky little brain trap called dichotomous thinking.
By Tony Martello5 months ago in Psyche
Keeping the Mind Young: Science-Backed Ways to Slow Brain Ageing
As we age, we often expect wrinkles, weaker bones, or slower movement — but what truly worries most people is the ageing of the mind. Forgetting names, losing focus, or feeling mentally fatigued can be frightening signs that our brain is changing. Yet, science is uncovering hopeful news: the brain is not a machine doomed to wear out. It’s a living, adaptable organ capable of renewal, repair, and growth at any age — if we give it the right conditions.
By Esther Sun5 months ago in Psyche
Run Forrest, run!
The other day, I finally watched “Forrest Gump” , and noticed a theme that, to my knowledge, isn’t part of the mainstream conversation about this film - namely the developmental psychology thread running through the storyline and shaping the lives of the main characters.
By Eva Smitte6 months ago in Psyche
I Was the Strong One Until It Broke Me
For as long as I can remember, people have seen me as “the strong one.” The dependable friend. The sibling who always listens. The co-worker who steps up when things fall apart. I carried that title like a badge of honor, proud that others trusted me, proud that I could be the one who held everyone together.
By Nadeem Shah 6 months ago in Psyche
Controversial Ads: The Fine Line Between Provocative & Tone-Deaf
Marketing has always been about finding the sharp edge between generating explosive sales growth and being caught on the outside of culture. From the earliest newspaper ads to the golden age of television commercials, brands have looked for ways to disrupt the ordinary. Some have done it with humor, others with spectacle, and some by stepping boldly into uncomfortable territory using controversial ads.
By Awakened Films6 months ago in Psyche
The Best in Us
Few experiences in life genuinely move me. I use the term “move” in the deep emotional or spiritual sense where one is overcome by emotion. Most of life is day to day with ups and downs, highs and lows, but few of those highs or lows hit with a wave of emotion. The circus does this to me consistently.
By Hayden Searcy6 months ago in Psyche
Going No Contact: Why I 'Divorced' My Narcissistic Mother
I Finally Divorced My Mother This was not an act of anger. It was the final, radical act of my own preservation. To "divorce" your mother is a jarring concept. It feels like a violation of the sacred bond we’re told should be unbreakable. For years, I believed that, too. I spent decades trying to renovate a relationship that was built on a fault line, hoping that if I just found the right words or the right therapist, the foundation would finally be safe.
By Sunshine Firecracker6 months ago in Psyche
