All In The Mind

We've come a long way in how we talk about mental health.But while diagnoses like depression and anxiety can empower people to seek help and support — they also influence how we see ourselves and how others might see us, too.Today, we investigate 'concept creep.' It's the idea that the labels we use to describe mental health are expanding and being applied to an ever-wider array of human behaviours.We look at what's causing this, the impacts it might have (both positive and negative), and what it means for how we understand mental health conditions.This episode first aired in November 2024.Guest:Professor Nick HaslamProfessor of Psychology, University of MelbourneCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarProducer: Rose KerrSenior producer: James BullenSound engineer: Simon BranthwaiteYou can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.More information:Concept creep: Psychology's expanding concepts of harm and pathology

You've probably experienced intrusive thoughts — bizarre, fleeting, sometimes inappropriate thoughts that cross your mind without warning. Although these can be weird to experience, they're totally normal.But for people with obsessive compulsive disorder these thoughts can become inescapable — leading to worry, compulsions and shame.Today we're talking about OCD, because it's often quite different from the stereotype of handwashing and lining up pencils. It can venture into taboo and dangerous thoughts, from paedophilia to violent harm. So what does living with these unwanted thoughts feel like? And how much can treatment improve OCD symptoms?This episode covers some heavy topics from sexual abuse to suicide. There are also a few swear words. Please take care while listening.Guests:Uma Chatterjee, M.S., MHPSNeuroscience PhD student, University of Wisconsin-MadisonScience communicatorMental health advocateMartin IngleWriter and filmmakerProfessor Vlasios BrakouliasPsychiatristSydney Medical School, Westmead HospitalCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarProducer: Rose KerrSenior Producer: James BullenSound engineer: Timothy JenkinsYou can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Support:Lifeline 13 11 14SANE AustraliaARCVic Helpline 1300 269 438More information:You Can't Ask That - OCD episode

According to consumer psychology, there's a recipe for being cool. And surprisingly, the ingredients are similar across a bunch of countries and cultures.So today, we explore the concept of cool: what it says about our values and how it influences us. But be warned — if you try too hard to be cool, it might unravel your attempt before you even get there.You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Guest:Caleb WarrenConsumer psychologistProfessor of MarketingUniversity of ArizonaCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Simon BranthwaiteMore info:Trying too hard or not hard enough: How effort shapes statusWhat Makes Things Cool? How Autonomy Influences Perceived CoolnessCool People

You know how certain people are just… difficult? Maybe they're prickly to be around, don't take feedback well, or act like a narcissist?Today we're learning how to handle relationships with difficult people; from setting boundaries, to understanding the role of attachment and temperament on behaviour.Plus, is it ever the right time to cut someone off completely? And what's a 'highly sensitive person' (HSP)?Got a question about a difficult person in your life? Send us an email at [email protected] with the subject line "mailbag episode: difficult people".Guests:Rachel SamsonClinical psychologistCo-author, Beyond DifficultDr Jessie SternDevelopmental psychologist and researcherCo-author, Beyond DifficultCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Micky GrossmanYou can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Extra information:Beyond Difficult, An attachment-based guide to dealing with challenging people

Extreme emotional turmoil, fears of abandonment, huge amounts of stigma… These factors can make navigating a career when you have borderline personality disorder really tricky. But Rosie and Enya are making it happen.Today, how to navigate your working life when you have BPD.We hear from Enya, a listener who works on fishing boats while receiving treatment for her BPD, and Rosie, a teacher and author who decided to disclose her diagnosis with her workplace. How has borderline personality disorder impacted their careers? And what advice does an occupational therapist have for people with BPD entering the workforce?This episode includes mention of self-harm and suicide. Please take care while listening.Guests:EnyaRosie CappucinoAuthor, Talking about BPDDr Suzanne DawsonOccupational TherapistSenior Research Fellow, Caring Futures InstituteFlinders UniversityCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Bethany StewartThanks to freesound.org users digifishmusic and Scott_Snailham.You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Support services:Lifeline 13 11 14Beyond BlueAustralian BPD Foundation

Long before Sarah's daughter Chloe Hayden became an award-winning actress starring in Netflix's Heartbreak High, she was a kid facing immense struggles. Chloe was sensitive to smells, lights and foods; she had no friends; she hated school.Sarah never suspected Chloe was autistic, but that’s only because her idea of what autism looked like came from the film Rain Man.Sarah is now a social worker and equine assisted therapist, working with neurodiverse families.In this episode, Sarah shares her family’s story, her advice for parents navigating school refusal and food aversion – and the shock of getting her own surprise ADHD diagnosis later in life.You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Guest:Sarah HaydenSocial workerEquine assisted therapistAuthor, Parenting DifferentCredits:Presenter/producer: Sana QadarProducer: Rose KerrSenior producer: James BullenSound engineer: Roi HubermanSupport services:Butterfly FoundationLifelineMore information:What to do if nothing's working, Autism AustraliaPlanning Absences: A Guide for Parents of Autistic StudentsEating disorders and autismAnorexia Nervosa and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic ReviewAutism spectrum disorder and anorexia nervosa: Investigating the behavioural and neurocognitive overlapPersonal essay: "I was unseen, even to myself"Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa Comorbidity: Common Features and Treatment Possibilities With Cognitive Remediation Therapy and OxytocinDisability advocates say NDIS changes disregard alternative therapy benefitsEffects of Equine Therapy on Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic ReviewEquine-Assisted Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Comprehensive Literature ReviewEquine assisted activities and therapies in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and a meta-analysisAutism and Equine-Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Mapping ReviewEffects of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisEffectiveness of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An UpdateA Scoping Review of Equine-Assisted Therapies on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Autistic Children and Adolescents: Exploring the Possibilities

We've all dreamt of lobbing our smartphone into the ocean and going off grid.So what happens when you follow through with it?For the final episode of Brain Rot, we speak to the people who decided they'd had enough.From a French village, to Gen Z 'luddites' in New York City and a group of parents in regional Victoria, there are clubs, campaigns and even laws dedicated to a smartphone-free life.But in 2025, how do you pull it off? And is it actually worth it?This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind from Sunday 19 October.Guests:Stan AwtreySportswriter, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionVincent Paul-PetitMayor, Seine-Port, FranceLisa GivenProfessor of Information Sciences, RMIT UniversitySteph ChallisFounder, The Phone PledgeJameson ButlerCo-Founder, The Luddite ClubCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Ross RichardsonThanks to Sam Goerling for the assistance with French translation.This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.More Information:The Luddite ClubParents unite to ban teens from smartphones amid social media minimum age reviewYou can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Plenty of people will say they are addicted to the internet. But how well-recognised, scientifically, is an addiction … to your screen?In episode four of Brain Rot, we dig into how behavioural addictions work.And we hear from self-described internet addicts about the treatment programs helping them manage their relationship with technology.This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October.Guests:Jillian and KateInternet and Technology Addiction Anonymous membersHilarie CashPsychologist and Co-Founder, reSTARTAnna LembkeProfessor of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of MedicineAnastasia HronisClinical Psychologist; Author, The Dopamine BrainDar MeshiAssociate Professor, Michigan State UniversityCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim SymondsThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.More Information:Changes and correlates of screen time in adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta analysis — eClinical Medicine, 2022.Internet-addicted South Korean children sent to digital detox boot camp.The Dopamine Brain — Anastasia Hronis.Everyone is on their phones. But are we actually addicted? The Guardian, 2024.Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous.Dopamine Nation — Anna Lembke.Inside the rehab saving young men from their internet addiction — The Guardian, 2017Other episodes related to focus and our relationship with smart phones:When doom scrolling leads to actual harmShould you do a 'dopamine detox'?Sick of scrolling? Digital minimalism could helpFighting for focus in the age of distractionYou can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

We're trusting tech with more tasks than ever — including the ones our brains once did.We're Googling things we used to know, taking screenshots of things we'll instantly forget, and hoarding all kinds of data we'll never check again.On this episode of Brain Rot: is tech giving your brain a holiday, or putting it out of a job?You'll also meet a guy who's turned the tables, by using AI to help recover his lost memories.This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October.Guests:Dr Julia SoaresAssistant Professor, Mississipi State UniversityMorris VillaroelAcademic, Spain; LifeloggerMaxCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim SymondsThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.More Information:Memory in the Digital Age — Oxford Handbook of Human Memory, 2024.Lifelog Retrieval from Daily Digital Data: Narrative Review — JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2022.People mistake the internet's knowledge for their own — PNAS, 2021.Data Selves: More-Than-Human Perspectives — Deborah Lupton, 2019.One man's 10-year experiment to record every moment — BBC, 2019.The case for using your brain — even if AI can think for you — Vox, 2025.You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Whether it’s social media, the omnipresent smartphone or AI companions, in recent decades the way we relate to each other has been completely up-ended.In episode two of Brain Rot, we explore the potential implications that tech poses to human relationships.Worldwide estimates suggest there are around one billion users of AI companions — people using software or applications designed to simulate human-like interactions through text and voice.So if the uptake of these AI companions is as rapid as is being reported, what are the ramifications? And could AI companions be both a cause and cure for loneliness? This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October.Guests:KellyIn a relationship with an AI companion, ChristianBethanie Drake-MaplesDoctoral Candidate, Research Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial IntelligenceNicholas EpleyProfessor of Behavioural Science, University of Chicago Booth School of BusinessNicholas CarrAuthor and journalistCredits:Presenter: Ange LavoipierreProducer: Fiona PepperSenior Producer: James BullenSound Engineer: Tim SymondsThis story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.More Information:Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots — npj Mental Health Research, 2024.Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations are preceded by concerns about starting one — Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2022.Talking with strangers is surprisingly informative — PNAS, 2022.Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart — Nicholas Carr, 2025.You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.