One reason why relationships are valuable is that they enable us to know ourselves better; being part of a couple can help us to understand who we are.  Our partners may see what we no longer can; both what is adorable and what is more perplexing and difficult. They might, for example, remind us that we’ve told that anecdote (three times) before or that purple doesn’t suit us. They can tell us that we’ve overreacted to a problem at work or that we’ve placed our trust in an envious friend. Their responses give us a chance to grow sightly less obtuse, haughty and peculiar…

Stress isn’t always a bad thing: it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes.

Huda Akil, professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, explains the many ways that the stress of chronic isolation, especially solitary confinement, affects the brain and behavior.

Acclaimed psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, author of “The Body Keeps The Score,” discusses the widespread existence of trauma and how it manifests in our bodies.

Right now, you are in possession of the most complex thing in the known universe: Your brain. The question is, how could this amazingly advanced biological computer have come about through natural forces? In this episode of The Social Brain, we’re traveling hundreds of millions of years into the past to answer that question. We’ll describe in broad strokes the evolution of single celled organisms all the way to the most intelligent creatures on the planet.

Scientists have been trying hard to find out where the thoughts emerge within our brains. It is a complex situation to find out how this is happening whether the thoughts come from nowhere. Are these thoughts the reaction against environmental situations or society? People assume that subjectively the thoughts appear as something in the mind which then pops out from our mouth. It is assumed that the certain activity of the neurons in the brain results in the formation of thoughts.

Here we explore two Buddhist stories that offer timeless wisdom on how to deal with anger. From the Buddha's encounter with an angry Brahman to Thich Nhat Hanh's parable of the empty boat, we discover mindful ways to confront and dissolve anger before it leads to suffering.

Discover practical strategies to tame anxiety with 'How To Deal With Anxiety' by Sutta Friends. This insightful guide offers clear, step-by-step methods rooted in mindfulness and wisdom traditions. Whether you're navigating daily stressors or seeking long-term relief, this book equips you with essential tools to cultivate calm and resilience in today's fast-paced world.

Cancer Wellness Facilitator Dennis Buttimer shares how to relieve anxiety in one minute.

We worry so much about lots of things that turn out never to happen... How can we stop?