Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i Psychologies

The trouble with toxicity... Thank you so much, Kate Beckwith, for pointing out how damaging the expression ‘toxic masculinity’ can be to our boys and young men. It is no wonder that so many of them are struggling with how they are supposed to think and act in society, especially around the opposite sex. Best regards, Maggie Cobbett Going Dutch I wanted to share with you a really useful phrase I learnt from my Dutch neighbour (I live in the Netherlands). She told me that people need ‘rust, reinheid en regelmaat’ which they call the 3Rs. In English we could refer to this as the 3Cs — calmness, cleanliness and certainty (of routine). This gave me a moment of clarity as I finally understood why Dutch people’s houses are always…

I’m sitting in the front row as two men throw each other around a wrestling ring, and I can’t help but cheer with the crowd as the wrestlers leap and flip inches from my face. I’m really not into wrestling, but my husband convinced me to come along to a show. And I actually end up having a great time. Embracing new experiences can be so good for us, but can also feel challenging. ‘Fear and apprehension are normal emotions — uncertain situations can produce natural fear and anxiety,’ explains Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo, a chartered psychologist and co-author of Mental Health Microgains: 50 small actions that will make a big difference to your wellbeing (Trigger, £14.99). That sense of uncertainty about what to expect can hold us back. We’re used to…

START SMALL, STAY REAL ● Reach out to someone you’ve lost touch with, not with pressure, just presence. A ‘hey, thinking of you’ message is enough. ● Invite a neighbour or colleague for coffee, a walk, or something casual. No agenda. Just connection. ● Join something low-commitment: a local group, a class, a community event. It’s okay if you don’t talk much. Just being there counts. CO-CREATE SAFETY ● In your next group setting (meeting, class, gathering), try a check-in question that goes beyond ‘how are you?’ Example: ‘What’s one thing you’re holding right now?’ or ‘What’s something that made you smile this week?’ BUILD CONSISTENCY ● Start a small ritual, a weekly dinner, monthly walk, or recurring invite. It doesn’t have to be big. What matters is rhythm. ● Create…

Lately I’ve been thinking about age and how our view of the world changes as the years roll by. I’m sitting next to a skate park in the city, surrounded by trees and pigeons. Blossom is appearing on branches, but by the time you read this it will only be remembered as petals trodden into the dirt. Just over a year ago I fell in love with a man, and the early months of our love were punctuated by photos of blossom, kisses under blossom, poems about blossom. Next year there will be blossom once more, because nature is like that. Mostly, anyway. It is clinging to its own repetitive rhythm, despite humans doing all they can to interrupt it. Today, the sky keeps opening and I cover my laptop…

Nutritionist Angela Dowden’s collection of 100 recipes in The Anti-Inflammatory Recipe Book, delves into the latest research to help readers understand how foods rich in fibre, healthy fats and antioxidants can benefit us. Watermelon, feta and herb salad SERVES: 4PREP TIME: 15 minutes Ingredients: ● ¼ watermelon, about 800g in total, peeled and cut into large chunks● 1 small bunch of parsley, finely chopped● 1 small bunch of mint, finely chopped● 1 small bunch of fresh coriander, finely chopped● 200g reduced-fat feta cheese, cubed● 16 pitted Greek olives● 1tbsp red jalapeño peppers in brine, drained and finely chopped● Juice of 1 lime● Small handful of alfalfa or radish shoots, to garnish To serve: ● Lime wedges● Grissini breadsticks (optional) Method: 1 Put the watermelon, herbs, feta, olives and jalapeño peppers…

If you, like me, consumed one too many 19th-century novels as a teenager, then you are probably very familiar with the idea of convalescence. You know the sort of thing: the beautiful, headstrong heroine insists on going out in the storm, catches a nasty chill and then spends days in bed as her brooding love interest reads her poetry and feeds her grapes while she recovers. Or perhaps, instead, she is sent away to ‘take the sea air’ as she slowly moves back towards health, contemplating all that she’s been through as she gazes out over an endless vista of blue. These are romantic ideas and that is undoubtedly part of their allure. But while I like to think I’ve matured enough to realise that tuberculosis isn’t actually very romantic…

We’re more digitally connected than ever. But behind the curated feeds and busy group chats, many people are quietly struggling with something deeper: disconnection. The US Surgeon General recently declared loneliness and social isolation to be a public health crisis, and the UK has a Minister for Loneliness. Across all age groups, studies show a steep decline in close friendships, a rise in social withdrawal, and a growing number of people who say they have no one they can confide in. This isn’t just a social issue, it’s a mental health emergency. But the answer isn’t self-improvement. It’s not hustle culture or mindfulness apps. The answer is each other. At the heart of this disconnection is something often overlooked: trust. It’s the foundation that makes real connection possible, allowing us…

When you cast your mind back to your childhood, what do you remember? Sun-drenched days playing on the beach with a bucket and spade? Hours hanging out with your friends at the park? Or endless days playing out on your street with the kids from your neighbourhood? The likelihood is, today’s generation of children won’t have the same memories to look back on. Whether it’s due to fears over their safety, our increasing reliance on technology to communicate instead of face to face, or myriad other reasons, children today spend far more time alone than they did in previous years — and that can often lead to them feeling lonely. The NSPCC Childline service delivered almost 5,000 loneliness-related counselling sessions to children last year, with Childline director Shaun Friel describing…

I’ve always considered myself to be quite in tune with my hormones. I’ve been adept at spotting the minor fluctuations that arise at different times of the month, and, after a few tumultuous teenage years, I became increasingly aware of the way they can shape my mood and outlook. But as I head firmly into perimenopause territory, I feel on shaky ground. The gentle(ish) waves that would come and go each month are becoming more stormy, and I’m worried about getting swept away. So I turn to hormone specialist Hannah Alderson, author of Everything I Know About Hormones (DK Red, £16.99), to find out more. ‘It’s kind of like an intricate dance,’ she says. ‘It’s a super dynamic system, the endocrine [hormone] system, and nothing works in isolation, and that’s…

We are increasingly aware of the importance of taking care of our bodies to help look after our minds — and are beginning to understand how a holistic approach to interior design can reinforce all those feel-good, happy, comforting vibes too. ‘It’s no surprise our environment can hugely affect our mental health and wellbeing – and our homes, in which we spend most of our time, are no exception,’ says interior designer Alysha Alli. ‘By consciously curating the colour palette, layout, lighting, and décor, you can create an environment that not only looks good but actively supports your mental health and wellbeing.’ Whether it’s a soothing retreat for rest, an energising space for creativity, or in a welcoming haven for connecting with loved ones, Alli says by incorporating key design…

Healthy diet = healthy ageing Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, legumes and low-fat dairy could be the secret to feeling healthy as you grow older. Only 9.3 per cent of people aged 70 and older reach that milestone without one of 11 major chronic diseases or a cognitive or physical impairment. But a 30-year study of 100,000 Americans found the ones that did hit 70 without major impediment shared these healthy habits. Somebody pass that fruit bowl... Cheers to that! Wine and ice cream is the coolest foodie pairing this summer. Searches are soaring on TikTok, and dedicated venues are opening to serve the duo, with art nouveau-inspired The Dreamery in Islington, North London, leading the trend. Experts say the idea is influenced…

Your self-image is your perception of yourself, and how you appear to other people. Developing over time, your self-image is influenced by factors such as culture, family, friends, and personal experiences, and it has a profound influence on your beliefs, your emotions, your behaviour, and your relationships. Your self-image is the energy that you radiate out into the world, and it affects every aspect of your life. Your self-image, the way in which you view and evaluate yourself, whether it’s positive or negative, and the expectations you hold are the reasons why you are where you are today. Your self-image affects the way you act, think, decide, speak, feel — all of it. The words you choose to put at the end of the sentence ‘I’m the kind of person…

Growing up, I loved rearranging my bedroom. I’d shift my bed, drag my wardrobe across the room, rearrange all the objects on the mantelpiece and suddenly, I felt like I’d given myself a fresh start. Back then I knew nothing about environmental psychology or feng shui. But my body knew what my head didn’t. Our homes should be places we long to return to, but lately, I’ve been struggling with that feeling. The home I once loved doesn’t feel as cared for as it should. So, I took to my journal, knowing it would help me uncover what was really going on beneath the surface. On so many levels our homes are a mirror of us. So I put aside some time to think about what I really look for…

We live in a culture with endless advice for improving your relationship, raising your kids, or managing your team at work. Romantic partnerships and family ties are seen as life pillars, with entire industries devoted to supporting and studying them. But adult friendship? That often gets treated as a nice-to-have. Optional. Maybe even a little childish. Yet friendship may be one of the most overlooked protective factors we have. In the noise of productivity, coupledom, and self-reliance, we’ve sidelined something essential. And it’s costing us. The truth is, friendship isn’t a luxury. It’s medicine. And we need to start treating it like that. Across the UK, friendship networks are shrinking. A 2021 study by the Campaign to End Loneliness found that nearly half of adults said they felt lonely at…

How to stop forever chemicals disrupting your hormones ‘We’re living in a time where plastics and endocrine disruptors are quietly rewriting the script on hormone health,’ says Hannah Alderson, BANT registered nutritionist and hormone specialist, and author of Everything I Know About Hormones (DK Red). ‘They can nudge the environment for your hormones’ optimal function off course by interfering, mimicking or blocking hormones — leaving a lasting impact on how they function. ‘Today, we’re not only surrounded by synthetic chemicals that subtly interfere with our body’s natural rhythm, microplastics are part of us (literally) and it’s one of the most overlooked factors shaping women’s health right now. Forever chemicals, or PFAS, are sneaky as they are found in everything from non-stick pans to waterproof mascara. They’re called “forever” for a…

Work is synonymous with stress for most of us, and that’s rarely more the case than if you’re an entrepreneur, out there, doing it for yourself. According to a report last year, 46% of entrepreneurs struggle with high stress, and 34% experience burnout — all of which can, of course, have a major impact on mental and physical health. But some entrepreneurs seem to have the mix right, managing to balance the strain of running their own business with the need to look after themselves. So what can we learn from them — whether we’re also budding entrepreneurs or simply employees looking to empower ourselves? In alignment with this, we spoke with five inspirational entrepreneurs who shared their one tip on how to manage a stressful day. They explain how…