In recent years, many individuals and families have faced growing financial strain. Rising housing prices, increased grocery bills, soaring energy costs — it’s no wonder the cost of living crisis has become one of the defining challenges of our time. But while much of the focus is understandably on bank accounts and budgets, there's another crucial piece of the puzzle we must not overlook: the impact on our mental health.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that often sparks passionate discussion — not only among clinicians, but in wider society. Over the years, many voices have shaped how we think about ADHD. One of the most well-known is Dr Gabor Maté, a physician and bestselling author, whose views sometimes contrast with the broader scientific literature. So, what exactly are these differences — and why do they matter?

Heartbreak is rarely simple. Whether it catches you off guard or creeps in slowly over time, ending a relationship tends to leave behind a tangle of emotions. It might come with deep sadness, confusion, guilt, relief, anger — often all in the same afternoon. You might be the one who was left, the one who left, or the one who saw it coming and still feels completely unprepared. No matter how it unfolds, heartbreak is a form of grief. And it’s okay if it hurts more than you expected it to.

Living with a chronic illness – or supporting someone who is – quietly changes almost everything. It’s not just about appointments and medications, though there are often plenty of those. It’s the background stress, the unpredictability, the way it sneaks into identity, work, relationships, even self-worth. It’s often invisible to others, but its impact can be all-encompassing.

You’re going about your day, maybe you’re grocery shopping, driving, or chatting with a friend when BAM, a thought strikes out of nowhere. It’s sharp, unsettling, and completely unwanted.

What if I hurt someone?
What if I hurt myself?
What if I’m a terrible person?
I’m a monster.
I’m disgusting.
I’m going to hell.

Walk into any casual conversation or scroll through social media, and you’ll likely hear phrases like “I’m so OCD about my desk,” or “That show ending left me depressed.” Often, people use clinical terms as exaggerations for everyday quirks or feelings. No harm is usually intended – it’s become common slang to describe being neat, sad, or distracted. However, this habit of borrowing mental health diagnoses as figures of speech can have unintended consequences. What might seem like a light-hearted comment to one person can come across very differently to someone who actually lives with that condition . In fact, casually using these labels can trivialise complex conditions, turning serious disorders into throwaway adjectives. Before we brush off these concerns, it’s important to understand what OCD, ADHD, and depression truly involve and why using these terms flippantly can be problematic.