Dr. John Gray In some Canadian provinces, including Ontario, mental health legislation creates a paradox: individuals may be involuntarily admitted to hospital because treatment is deemed necessary for their safety or the safety of others—yet if they are found capable of making treatment decisions, they retain the legal right to refuse that very treatment. The person remains detained,…
For some, the title of this blog might look like ‘click-bait’ – and dismissed as a further example of the exaggeration that can surround discussions of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). For others, the statement may seem axiomatic and obvious given that research has already suggested that chatbots are a feasible, engaging, and effective way to deliver…
We all have people in our lives who are “huggers.” Some come right out and say, “I’m a hugger!” as their arms are already wrapping around you. Others don’t give very much of a warning. Hugs, while comforting for some, can be very overwhelming for others, and researchers have been attempting to discover the reasons…
In social situations or large groups, some people experience anxiety. We often associate social anxiety with introverts; people who generally prefer to be alone and stay away from groups. Extroverts, on the other hand, enjoy being around people and socializing. However, extroverts, too, can experience social anxiety. Extroversion vs. Introversion Extroversion is a personality trait…
Colloquially, the term sadist describes a person who derives sexual enjoyment and satisfaction from inflicting pain, retribution, and shame on others. The word is derived from an 18th-century Frenchman, Marquis de Sade, who was famous for penning aggressive, malicious, and ruthless literature about sexuality. Sade was said to endorse aggression in sexuality, and thus, sadism historically referred…
All too often, we worry about things we cannot control. We worry about it raining on our wedding day, how our boss will react when we ask for a few days off, the way our brother-in-law will behave at Thanksgiving, and a slew of other matters that we simply can’t influence. We go through life allowing…
Stress is an inevitable part of modern human life and is reportedly experienced by nearly half the population of US adults. While stress affects different age groups and genders in different ways, the triggering scenarios and recommended treatments are quite similar. One often overlooked factor impacting stress is deep sleep. The most commonly recommended solutions…
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic and pervasive mental health condition that can contribute to the presence of obsessive and compulsive symptoms. For many, this includes a pattern of unwanted thoughts that often leads to repetitive behaviors. These symptoms are known to cause significant psychological distress and disruption in everyday life due to the amount…
Perinatal mental disorders (PMDs) impact more than 20% of women during pregnancy and postpartum (Howard et al., 2014), including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and postpartum psychosis (Awini et al., 2023). These conditions stem from various stressors, such as childbirth experiences, neonatal loss, and complications during labour (Biaggi et al., 2016; Milgrom et al., 2019;…
Have you ever noticed how the biggest changes in life often bring out both the best and most challenging parts of our relationships? Whether it’s moving to a new city, starting a new job, welcoming a child, or adjusting to an empty nest, life transitions can feel overwhelming. But they also offer powerful opportunities…