All In The Mind

There is a fundamental asymmetry between human beings' negative and positive emotions. For good evolutionary biological reasons our negative emotions are stronger, yet we experience positivity more often.

Mental disorder as a defence in the court of law—mental impairment influences whether one is found guilty by the legal system and if the symptoms of mental illness are sometimes faked. 

At 24, acclaimed novelist Matt Haig’s world suddenly fell apart—he could no longer see a reason to live. Haig’s memoir is an honest and inspiring account of how he emerged from severe depression and anxiety, and learned to live again.

We talk with a practitioner of what's called Existential Therapy—one of the tenets of which is that all human beings have an innate fear of death, and that coming to terms with this fear through therapy can lead to a more authentic life. We discuss the various styles of psychotherapy being practised today.

More than 1.3 million men in Australia experience mental health problems but too few of them seek help because of the stigma that exists. We hear how early intervention is used in treatment; a young man's social enterprise to help others, and the relationship between men’s mental health and their ageing process.

Being Mindful in May—mindfulness as a treatment for depression, and why Google is encouraging it in the workplace.

At the age of 12 Martin Pistorius developed a mysterious neurological illness. He fell into a coma and was unable to move or communicate. It was assumed he had no awareness but a couple of years later he began to wake up—yet no-one knew. He was trapped inside his body for almost 10 years until he found a way to communicate. Using computer-generated voice technology he tells us about how he coped with this terrifying ordeal, and how he found the love of his life.

When people are deeply traumatised by war, disaster or abuse their reality is distinctly different to those around them—but treatment of the mind may come through the body.

The discovery that our brains can adapt their physical structure in response to mental experience was put in the spotlight several years ago by Dr. Norman Doidge. This adaptation has become known as neuroplasticity, and in his latest book Norman Doidge writes about the brain even being able to heal itself without surgery.

Have you ever had a dream in which you are aware that you are dreaming? These seemingly altered states of consciousness are called lucid dreams.