Social Stress Shapes the Lives of People with Bipolar Disorder

By Aalaa Basheer 

Most of us feel stressed about school, work, money, or family at some point in our lives. But for people living with bipolar disorders, stress can have an even bigger impact on their mental health. 

 

What is bipolar? 

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness listed in the DSM 5. People with bipolar disorder experience strong shifts in their mood and energy. They tend to go from very high to very low mood episodes. The high state is called a manic or hypomanic episode. In that episode, they have too much energy and feel irritable and unusually confident. The low state is called a major depressive episode. They feel down, tired and lose their appetite and interest in activities they usually enjoy. There are two types of bipolar disorders, bipolar I and bipolar II. Bipolar I has more severe manic episodes, while bipolar II has more severe depressive episode.  

 

Social stress and bipolar disorder 

A recent study looked at the effect of social stress on the mental health of 2,280 adults diagnosed with bipolar disorders. The researchers looked at different types of social stress. Some were about access to education and healthcare. Others were about money, housing, safety, and transportation. Also, they looked at the community they live in, like family relationships and living in an unjust society. The participants answered a questionnaire about the stress they had in the past year and how severe it was. The study found that the people who experienced more stress had worse mental health outcomes. People with high stress had more anxiety and mood shifts. Moreover, they were more likely to have alcohol or drug problems and attempt suicide. Even though bipolar disorder is related to biology, this study showed that someone’s environment also has a big impact on their health. 

 

Gender Differences 

This study discovered interesting differences between men and women in stress. The women in the study were more likely to report that they lacked family support. They had more money problems and more difficulties accessing healthcare and getting health coverage. Meanwhile, men had more problems with unemployment. When it comes to the effect of the social stress on their health, women were more likely to have problems with binge eating and more mood shifts. Women also had more suicide attempts. Men, on the other hand, were more likely to have problems with alcohol and drugs. 

 

Why this matters 

So, why do we care? It is important to understand all the factors that affect the mental and physical health of people with bipolar disorders. This study shows that supporting people with bipolar is more than just medication and therapy. We must address the real-life issues that affect their well-being and make their illness more difficult to manage. It is also essential to recognize the gender differences. Financial pressure and barriers in accessing healthcare and health coverage are not small issues. This severely affects long-term health and well-being. This research suggests that social stressors are as serious as physiological symptoms. By looking at the person as a whole, including their environment, we can provide them with the help they need. Bipolar disorder does not exist in a vacuum, it is shaped by one’s genetics, housing, employment, relationships, and society. 

Voices of Schizophrenia: The Effects of Stigma

 By: Jessica Higgs

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is one of the most severe mental illnesses listed in the DSM-5. It is not common in the general population, but it is long lasting and affects people’s thinking and behaviour. Symptoms of the illness are hallucinations, delusions, disorganized “messy” speech, and trouble keeping relationships. The average age for symptoms to develop is 25, and the average age of a first hospital visit is 32. Many people see those with schizophrenia as “violent”, “dangerous”, or “incompetent.” In the United States, between 1996-2018, the belief that those with schizophrenia are dangerous went up by 10%.

Labelled, Lonely and Poorly Treated

A recent 2025 study interviewed 6 people with schizophrenia, and they were asked the question “How is social stigma viewed by people diagnosed with schizophrenia?” 5 themes were mentioned: social life, healthcare, workplace, relationships with others, and how they saw and felt about themselves. Many answers from the study included: feeling rejected, being labelled, being pushed, being hit in hospital, and trouble keeping a job. Other answers were distancing from others and feeling bad about themselves. One study participant said: “I was hit maybe because I wasn’t behaving well due to my symptoms.” Another participant said their friend did not believe them, and no longer wanted to be friends: “They didn’t understand my illness well, didn’t get it, thought I was a lazy good-for-nothing, that I couldn’t make any progress, that I was just living on this earth for nothing.”

Why Reducing is Important

A few of the ways that stigma shows up today is by treating people with schizophrenia as “dangerous” and not taking their symptoms seriously. Stigma can also show up as blaming them for their symptoms. Stigma around schizophrenia makes it more difficult for them to get treatment. This often leads to many people feeling unloved and lonely. Social stigma affects public places, such as hospitals. It is the hospital’s job to provide a safe space that is respectful and provides care. However, over 30% of patients with schizophrenia don’t receive the benefits from mental health services due to stigma and mistreatment. Reducing stigma would allow for better treatment in hospital. Rejection in friendships was a common answer that led to emotional issues and ending relationships, which can worsen patient health. Reducing stigma would allow for more close positive relationships and stronger mental health. Reducing stigma is important because it allows these people to use the support systems they need to feel their best. It also protects them from the negative feelings and experiences that can happen, such as ending relationships, painful emotions, and feeling like an outsider in the society they live in.

 

What This Means for the Future

This study shows that our view of schizophrenia is often hurtful. It also shows that stigma around schizophrenia is very hurtful to those who experience it. It is time for us to change how we view schizophrenia through a more compassionate and informed approach. We can reduce stigma through public education, which will help us have a better understand of the illness. Change should include letting go of the idea that they are always dangerous, while seeing them as capable of making progress and deserving of respect. This study reminds us that people with schizophrenia have a voice and an opinion on their own illness. Fear is one of the most common reasons people discriminate against mental illness, however these findings show that they are often more afraid of us than we are of them.

There Is No Such Thing as a Free Bet

Sports Betting and Youths

Sports betting has grown quickly. It used to be something mainly done in Las Vegas, but it is now available to people around the world, including in Ontario. Instead of happening only in casinos, betting now takes place on smartphones, where people can place bets in seconds. This makes impulsive gambling much easier. Studies show that problem gambling increases within the same year that betting rules become more flexible. These issues effect young people the most, especially young men. Young men gamble more often than young women or older adults, and they take more risks. Advertisers know this and target young men with many sports betting ads, often using special deals to draw them in. Since young people spend so much time on social media, this is where they see most of these ads. Betting companies also partner with influencers who share promo codes and earn money each time someone uses them. Young people are at a sensitive stage of life, and impulsive gambling can lead to serious long-term problems.

Sports Betting Advertisements

A recent study examined how betting inducement ads influence people aged 18 to 24. The study tested four types of deals: signup offers, bonus bets, increased odds, and stake back deals. Earlier research showed these were the most appealing deals to this age group. Signup offers and bonus bets created the strongest interest in placing a bet, and they led people to plan to bet more money. Increased odds and stake back deals were seen to help reduce losses a little, but signup offers felt like a chance to bet for free, and bonus bets seemed like a way to bet with less money. These reactions matched the way the ads were designed. However, the study also checked whether participants read the terms and conditions. Fewer than half read them for every ad, even though they were told to do so. If participants had more carefully read the terms and conditions for each ad, they may have been more aware of the true costs and benefits of placing bets using the deals.

The Issue with Inducements

The ads in the study were modelled after real social media ads, including the same fine print. Many participants believed the deals would save them money, but the truth was more complicated. Bonus bets only apply after a minimum cash bet is made, and winnings from free bets are paid in credits that must be used inside the app, not withdrawn as cash. The study shows how these ads can mislead young people and push them toward harmful gambling behaviours. The results indicate that young people are more drawn to deals perceived as free versus cheap, but the true cost of betting is concealed behind strategically misleading language. 

Protecting Ontario’s Youth

As sports betting continues to expand, Ontario needs stronger advertising rules. Current laws focus on older media like radio and TV and do not address the risks of online or social media advertising. Effective rules should ban “free bet” offers, including signup deals. They should also require advertisers to use clear and honest language. Any ad that uses an inducement offer should be direct about what the deal provides and should not rely on misleading wording. These rules should also apply to social media influencers who may promote betting with unclear or dishonest claims. Greater restrictions on advertisers can prevent harm to Ontario’s youths.

 

Why Autistic People Hide Their Traits - and Why It Hurts

By Sara Marin

When we talk about autism, we often focus on differences in communication or social abilities. But a growing number of autistic people say something else shapes their daily lives even more: the pressure to “fit in.” A new 2025 psychology paper explains how and why many autistic individuals learn to hide their traits, and the high personal cost this brings. 

This behaviour is known as social camouflaging. It includes masking or covering autistic traits to appear more typical to the people around them. Autistic youth may force eye contact, copy gestures, rehearse conversations in advance, or hide sensory discomfort. They often learn these behaviours in childhood because the world expects them to behave a certain way.

Why Camouflaging Appears Helpful at First

According to the study, society tends to reward behaviours that look “normal.” Teachers, peers, and adults often respond positively when autistic children appear more socially typical. Research reviewed in the article shows that autistic adolescents who camouflage more are often rated as more likable by neurotypical peers.

For some individuals, this helps them avoid bullying, form friendships, or meet social expectations. On the surface, camouflaging seems to help them succeed socially.

But the Inner Cost Is Serious

While camouflaging works externally, the internal impact can be damaging. The article explains that hiding one’s real traits every day is emotionally and mentally exhausting. Many autistic young people report feeling disconnected from their true identity. They describe not knowing who they really are because so much of their behaviour is adjusted to meet external expectations.

Research summarized in the paper links camouflaging to:

• higher stress

• increased anxiety

• depression

• loneliness

• burnout

• and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts

These outcomes occur because people respond to the mask, not the person underneath. The autistic individual’s real needs remain unseen and unmet.

A Mismatch Between the Person and Their Environment

The authors use a psychological idea called person–environment fit. Normally, a good fit happens when a person’s traits and their surroundings work together and adjust to each other.

But camouflaging interrupts this process.
Instead of expressing genuine traits, autistic individuals express traits shaped by social pressure. The environment then adapts to the inauthentic traits, not the real ones. Over time, this disconnect can harm mental wellbeing and identity development.

What Needs to Change

The authors argue that instead of expecting autistic people to change themselves to fit their environment, the environment should adapt to them. This includes:

• adjusting teaching and communication styles

• educating peers about autistic communication

• reducing unrealistic social expectations

• supporting autonomy and self-determination

Camouflaging is not always fully negative or fully positive. It may help autistic individuals navigate the social world, but using it constantly can harm emotional health. The real solution is creating spaces where autistic people do not feel pressured to hide who they are.

The Many Faces of Addiction Recovery: Why Understanding Matters

What Addiction Recovery Really Looks Like

Many people imagine someone in recovery from addiction as looking broken or unstable, as if recovery has one specific “look”. However, long-term recovery (LTR) does not follow one path. A recent study found five distinct paths of LTR, each with their own identities, goals, and ways of coping. Understanding this helps us see those in LTR as individuals, not as stereotypes.

What the Study Did

To learn what recovery really looks like, the researchers interviewed people in LTR, along with their family members, and therapists. From these stories, they identified five LTR paths. These include the Fighter, Avoidant, Wanderer, Devout, and Comrade. Fighters see LTR as a battle that they keep fighting. Avoidants stay away from triggers and reminders of the past to avoid relapse. However, therapists and families sometimes see this approach as “not progressing”. Wanderers see LTR as an opportunity for growth and learning. Devouts rely on routine, which helps them feel in control. Finally, Comrades focus on building connection and belonging.

What These Five Paths Teach Us

Together, these five paths show that addiction LTR is far more diverse than many people think. The study also demonstrates that misunderstanding someone’s LTR path can make them isolated. For example, Avoidants used distance to cope, yet many therapists and family members viewed this negatively. These perceptions can make LTR more challenging because it is not just about coping, but also about feeling seen. This is also why it is important that we view those in LTR as individuals rather than stereotypes.

LTR can be compared to renovating the inside of a house. Some people knock down the walls and rebuild everything (Fighter). Some repaint or rearrange each room (Wanderers). Some keep the layout the same because it feels safest (Devouts). Some invite others in to bring life into the home (Comrades). Finally, some keep certain doors closed because they are not ready to enter those rooms yet (Avoidants). From the outside, the house may look the same, but inside, every renovation is different and personal. When we expect everyone to “renovate” their lives in the same way, we create expectations that can harm rather than help.

Why This Matters for All of Us

If there is a lesson that readers should take from this study, it is that we are more like those in LTR than we think. Wanderers seek growth, Fighters rebuild identity after hardship, Comrades search for belonging, Devouts find comfort in routine, and Avoidants shield themselves from painful memories.

Outside of addiction, we all go through our own forms of recovery when we rethink who we are, overcome challenges, or reshape our identities after life lessons. Addiction LTR is simply a more intense form of something that is part of being human. When we see those in LTR as individuals, we reduce stigma. More importantly, we respond with empathy instead of judgement. When we challenge our assumptions about what LTR “should” look like, we begin to meet people where they are at, not where we expect them to be. We also make recovery less lonely. While every LTR story is different, the desire for connection, understanding, and identity is something that we all share. This study reminds us that behind every LTR story is a person "renovating" their life in a way that makes the most sense to them. When we truly understand this, we help create communities where people feel supported, not judged.

Melodic Memories: How Music Affects Memory Recall

A Brief Background 

Music is present in many parts of an individual’s life. People may listen to music to feel emotions, connect with it through dancing, write music as a form of creativity, and more. There are many benefits to music. Another way we are linked to music is through our memories. Have you ever heard a song and felt like you were back to the first time you heard it? Research identifies a connection between music and autobiographical memory.  

Autobiographical memories develop during an individual’s life, like puzzle pieces that make up one's story. According to past studies, there is a good relationship between familiar songs and important life memories. Familiar music is more likely to draw memories and emotional responses. 

Further Studying Music and Memory

Music can produce memories and emotions. In the past, music, memories, and emotions have been studied using unknown songs. An experiment in 2023 looked at how life memories were affected by familiar music and different emotions.

 

There were two parts to this study. First there was an online study. It had 139 participants ages 18-29 years. They listened to 22 clips of music. Following were questions about their recognition of the song, whether it seemed happy or sad, and the song’s energy level. The main experiment included 100 participants of the same ages. Both familiar and unfamiliar clips of music were presented. They pressed a button if they recalled an important life memory. They did not press the button if there was no memory. 

 

The results showed how known songs and emotions drew life memories. Memories were formed quickly when listening to familiar music. Upbeat music pulled good memories while unhappy memories were connected to sadder music. 

 

To Conclude

The study grew research on memories and music. It looked at how familiar music affects memories. Due to the number of participants and music clips tested, the results of this research may not apply to everybody. Future research could include more participants listening to all music clips and examine cross-cultural differences. Music is important for many reasons and almost everyone listens to it. Understanding the link between music and memories can allow individuals to relive past moments and feel the songs. My advice is that you should listen to a song that makes you happy and let any memories flow.