Exploring Humanity Through Medicine, Philosophy, and Art
Psychiatry
Introduction You wake up, reach for your phone, and already feel behind. Tasks blur together, words escape you, and your brain feels… cloudy. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The term “brain fog” has exploded into public consciousness—used by everyone from TikTok creators to neurologists. But what is it, really? Is brain fog a symptom of…
Introduction Imagine this: you take a pill, feel better—and later find out it was just sugar. No active chemicals, no pharmacological effect, just your belief. Yet, somehow, it worked. Welcome to the paradoxical world of the placebo effect, where the mind becomes medicine. For decades, researchers have puzzled over how inert substances can produce real healing effects in…
Introduction Do you ever walk into a room and forget why you went there? Or find yourself constantly checking your phone for reminders, appointments, or even directions to your own home? You’re not alone—and you might be experiencing something researchers are beginning to call “digital dementia.” This term refers to a decline in cognitive abilities due to…
Introduction In an age of instant communication, endless entertainment, and increasing prosperity, one might expect people to be happier than ever. Yet, major depressive disorder (MDD) — often simply called “depression” — has become one of the most common and disabling mental health conditions in the world. So what’s going on? Is modern life actually making us…
Introduction In the 21st century, anxiety has become more than just an occasional worry — it’s a way of life for millions. Whether it’s the constant notifications from our phones, the pressure to succeed, or a world that seems increasingly uncertain, anxiety disorders are on the rise like never before. But why now? What is it about…
Introduction Pain is one of the most universal human experiences. From the physical to the emotional, from the chronic to the acute, pain shapes our lives in profound ways. But what exactly is pain? Is it merely a signal from the body to the brain, or is it a deeper, more existential condition tied to…
Introduction: What Is Pain, Really? Pain is one of the most familiar human experiences—and yet, one of the hardest to explain. We all know what it feels like, but try describing it to someone who has never felt it. Is it sharp? Dull? Burning? Crushing? And beyond the sensation itself, we ask a deeper question: Is…
Why Your Brain Can’t Let Go Introduction: Have you ever replayed a conversation in your head a hundred times, thinking of what you should have said? Or lay awake at night obsessing over a decision, imagining every possible outcome? Welcome to the exhausting world of overthinking—a mental loop that many of us know all too well. In today’s…
The Neuroscience of Rest Introduction: We often think of sleep as simply a break from being awake—a time when our bodies shut down to recharge. But in reality, sleep is one of the most active, essential, and complex biological processes, especially for the brain. While you sleep, your brain is hard at work: forming memories, regulating…
An In-Depth Website Summary of Xia & Heeringa’s “Psychopathology and the Human Connectome” 🔍 Introduction The 21st-century revolution in neuroscience has radically reshaped our understanding of mental illness. No longer seen solely as chemical imbalances or isolated dysfunctions in specific brain regions, psychiatric disorders are now increasingly conceptualized as network-level disorders of the brain—the result of…