Automation is one of the engines of modernity, and what it should or could be is one of our society’s central discussions. However, when we discuss automation, it is never as a change that affects everyone in our community, but instead as one targeted at certain groups. Manufacturing workers on the assembly line have been […]
Category Archives: Mental Illness
June
29
Feelin’ the Beat (Frequency)
posted by Ethan McBride
What do you think when you read the word interference? If you’re like most people, you probably think it’s negative. Colloquially, interference tends to be obstructive or destructive, like interference keeping your radio or TV from picking up a station, or pass interference in football. I’m NeuWriting to inform you of a recent study in […]
May
11
Identity Crisis
posted by Barbara Spencer
Who are you? How do you know? I’ve been thinking a lot about identity this week. It all started when I received a letter from the IRS that began “Dear TAXPAYER” and essentially asked, “Are you who you say you are?” (Yes, it’s me! Please send me my tax refund!) To validate my identity, I […]
November
03
Get Over It: Discrimination and Mental Health
posted by Caroline Sferrazza
Prologue: This fall quarter at UC San Diego, the School of Medicine began its first elective course in mental health outreach for clinicians. I consider myself a rather fierce advocate for mental health care and illness awareness, so naturally I jumped at registering despite my already pretty full schedule. On October 11, 2016, I had […]
July
21
NeuWrite reads: Brain on Fire
posted by elena vicario
As author William F. Allman puts it in his book Apprentices of Wonder: “the brain is a monstrous beautiful mess.” Thanks to the brain, we are who we are and we do what we do. Now can you imagine your brain failing you, turning against you and becoming your worst enemy? That is exactly what […]
July
14
#TriggerWarning: Life After Trauma
posted by Caroline Sferrazza
At 2:09 am on June 12, 2016, Pulse had a message for its patrons: It’s only eight words, but it gives me chills whenever I read it. Have you ever been anywhere and found yourself with that imperative? Run. Keep running. Or you may die. The shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando claimed the […]
May
20
For the love of dog!
posted by Melissa Galinato
Think about your favorite pet (maybe it belongs to you…or your roommate in my case). What does it look like? Where is its favorite spot to hang out? When was the last time you played with it? Now think about the same things, but about your best (human) friend. You might experience similar feelings of […]
February
10
Add A Little Romance (Novel) To Your Valentine’s Day- Part 1!
posted by socogal42
Is there a more maligned genre of literature than the romance novel? For years it’s been made fun of as the primary choice of literature for middle aged spinster cat ladies everywhere, as something to sneer and scoff at. No more. The image of romance novels is changing, and changing fast. The genre has moved […]
December
04
Hearing voices: Social context influences psychosis
posted by Melissa Troyer
“People are always selling the idea that people with mental illness are suffering. I think madness can be an escape. If things are not so good, you maybe want to imagine something better.” These are the words of John Nash, Jr., the Nobel Laureate who inspired the book and the movie A Beautiful Mind and […]
October
16
Lithium: Wonder Drug? Part II
posted by kkiritah
Note from the author: This post is dedicated to my biology nerds out there. If you follow my Gene-of-the-Week posts (and you should because they’re the weirdest), you know that I often get lost in the cellular and molecular details of life, and it’s totally overwhelming. I wrote this post specifically to discuss the mechanisms […]
