“You seem to be from a different planet.” It was said half in jest by a college friend, but for Anima Nair, the words stuck. She had always processed the world differently, taking conversations literally, missing social cues, finding joy in the rhythm of words others skimmed past. Just over 2 years ago, she finally...
The morning sun hasn’t fully warmed the balcony, but Poonam Malpani is already there with a glass of warm water in one hand, her other hand brushing over the leaves of her favourite money plant. “This is my grounding,” she says. “A glass of warm water and a few minutes with my plants.” In India,...
Georgia Pritchett may not be a household name, but her words have reached millions. The British screenwriter has shaped some of television’s sharpest comedies like Succession, Veep, and The Thick of It. Yet in her memoir 'My Mess is a Bit of Life', she turns the lens inward where Pritchett chronicles her journey through debilitating...
It was a friendship that grew into a lifeline. When Nida and Sheena first met as schoolgirls in Dubai, they didn’t imagine their lives would one day intertwine to create something that could help children halfway across the world navigate grief, abuse, displacement, or the rumble of an earthquake. But today, their creation, Rocky Books,...
As the author is a psychologist herself, this article is not vetted by our team of reviewers. It often starts without warning. There is a growing sense of guilt late at night when your laptop is still open and the laundry is still waiting to be folded. Your calendar is overflowing with meetings, errands, and...
Recently, I found myself pouring my heart out, not to a human, but to a chatbot named Wysa on my phone. It nodded – virtually – asked me how I was feeling and gently suggested trying breathing exercises. As a neuroscientist, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was I actually feeling better, or was I just being...
There are books that disturb you quietly. And books that take you by storm. Janet Fitch's 'White Oleander' is one of those. It doesn’t bother with subtlety. It breaks things like childhood, love, memory wide open and asks what’s left after the wreckage. Astrid Magnussen is twelve when her mother, Ingrid, a coldly brilliant poet...
Standard therapy often fails people whose brains work differently. Like those with autism. Meet Elias. He's 22, has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and faces executive dysfunction, sensory overload, and communication barriers. Daily tasks overwhelm him. Unpredictable settings make talking about feelings nearly impossible. And traditional therapy hasn't...
This is a guest post. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of MyndStories. MyndStories receives no payment for the publishing of this post. Any links in the article are from the author and don't reflect any endorsement of a service or product from MyndStories. Ever stood...
Many people arrive at their profession by design, with their inspirational journeys being the stuff of TED Talks. However, 42-year-old Dr. Teena Augustine Joseph (aka Teena) arrived at hers by fire. Today, she runs Being Balanced, a psychotherapy practice based in Bengaluru that quietly challenges the noise and the performative nature of the mental health...
What’s common between John Wick’s character from New York and Sumit, a writer from Goa? They both deeply adore their pets. "When Helen died, I lost everything. Until that dog arrived on my doorstep. A final gift from my wife. In that moment, I received some semblance of hope. An opportunity to grieve un-alone.” There’s...
"Are you okay?" Someone's at her desk. Her colleague. "Are you okay?" he repeats. She smiles. Mask on. “Yeah… just thinking.” “Let’s take a break,” he smiles. “We can get coffee.” He had noticed. Aliya* had been staring at the same email for 30 minutes now, her vision blurring and her heart pounding louder than...
Have you come across people who seem to have sudden involuntary tics or movements? They could be living with Tourette Syndrome. Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological condition that causes these involuntary movements and sounds called tics and is estimated to affect up to 1% of the world's population. These tics can make daily life...
Before the fire, Mercy Blaine hadn’t left her house in two years. After the fire, with nothing but a reluctant heart and her dog Wasabi for company, she finds herself behind the wheel of a creaky campervan heading north towards Darwin. Forced to face a life outside four walls, she embarks on an unexpected journey...
Mental health services around the world are stretched thinner than ever. Long wait times, barriers to accessing care and rising rates of depression and anxiety have made it harder for people to get timely help. As a result, governments and healthcare providers are looking for new ways to address this problem. One emerging solution is the use of AI chatbots for mental health care. A recent...
Therapy is often misunderstood, especially in cultures where mental health stigma still runs deep. In this candid episode of the Therapy Room, counseling psychologist Jai Arora joins host Ankit Narasimhan to unravel the myths and realities around therapy, offering hope and clarity for those hesitant to seek help. Therapy and stigma: Why the fear? Jai...
This is a story I never thought I’d tell. I once left work an hour early after finding out that I’d had a miscarriage. An early one, they said. Barely six weeks in. I wanted to leave work after completing the mandatory 8 hours at the desk and skip my one-hour lunch, just for a...
Trigger warning: Mentions of anxiety, grief, and suicidal thoughts. The glow of her phone screen was the only light piercing through the dark. Shadows clung to the walls. Rachita* couldn’t breathe. Her chest tightened. Panic, familiar and relentless, curled its way back into her throat. Not again. Her fingers hovered over the phone. At the...
Diversity and inclusion has thankfully been gaining a lot of traction. However, many initiatives tend to focus more on gender, and race. But what about neurodivergence? Globally, 10-20% individuals are thought to be neurodivergent. In India, around 2 million individuals live with some form of neurodivergence as per a NIMHANS report. Neurodivergent individuals often face...
