The VICE Guide to Mental Health
You Have No Idea What the Term 'Depressed' Really Means Until It Devours You
"Depression" was a just a word to me before, like "sandals" or "matinée". Now, I get a pang in my chest whenever I hear it and the memories of desperate, dark sadness flicker behind my eyes.
The Internet Is Not a Doctor
"The internet is the biggest source of misinformation about mental health that has ever been created," says Dr Robert Epstein, mental health expert and former Psychology Today editor-in-chief.
Why Mental Health Disorders Emerge in Your Early Twenties
Is the appearance of mental illness in young people a matter of environment or biology?
The Life, Death and Possible Resurrection of the Asylum
Half a century ago, state mental hospitals closed after a series of horrific abuses – but in the aftermath, many mentally ill people were forced onto the streets or into jails. Now some are arguing it's time to bring these institutions back.
Female Hormones Can Make a Bloody Mess of Your Mental Health
It's time people took the mental repercussions of periods seriously.
Does Having Casual Sex Make You Depressed?
There's little concrete evidence to suggest there is any relationship between depression and casual sex, but that doesn't stop the foreboding headlines and biased studies trying to tell us otherwise.
How It Actually Feels to Live with Severe Anxiety
My anxiety disorder can make me feel like I'm trapped in a cyclone of negative thoughts and fear. But like many mental health conditions, with the right treatment and techniques, life is very liveable.
Why I'll Never Stop Taking Prozac
I've tried to come off Prozac in the past, but felt awful when I did. Does that make me an addict? I've given up worrying – as a depressive, life is liveable on them. That's all that matters.
Where Did My OCD Come From?
There's always been a big part of me that wanted to believe that OCD is genetic, that my mum's DNA – rather than her behaviour – gave me OCD. But I've realised that pointing the finger isn't that important when you want to get well.
My Fear of Vomit: The Nightmare of Living with Emetophobia
The one thought that completely invades my brain when I'm awake (and even, at times, in my sleep) is: "Will I vomit today?"
These Are the Consequences of Being a Teenager On Drugs
Millions of us take drugs. But for those who aren't feeling great about themselves, the need for escapism can be stronger. Unfortunately, this chemical sanctuary can worsen people's mental health.
My Fear of Vomit: The Nightmare of Living with Emetophobia
The one thought that completely invades my brain when I'm awake (and even, at times, in my sleep) is: "Will I vomit today?"