Mill P Writes

If you’ve ever spent a foggy morning questioning life’s deepest mysteries—like why socks disappear or which came first, the chicken or the egg—you’ll understand why Universal Brain’s latest study on depression hit home for me. The study, which uses "multiple event-related potentials" (ERPs), dives into brain activity to understand depression better. It’s not just groundbreaking; it’s the kind of nerdy science that makes me think there’s hope for people like me, whose mental health sometimes feels like a squirrel on a caffeine high, frantically burying acorns it’ll never find again. The article explains: “Multiple ERPs provide a way to observe the brain's real-time responses to specific stimuli, offering unprecedented insights into the neural underpinnings of depression.” Translation: Scientists are now eavesdropping on our brain’s party line to figure out why some of us are stuck in the sad loop while others breeze through life with TikTok dances and almond lattes. Rea...

  Read Part One Read Part Two Read Part Three Read Part Four Read Part Five Read Part Six Part Seven   The past two days among the Seraphim had been nothing short of transformative for Aiden. The moon that humans called Theta-13 was known to its inhabitants as Aelrith’en, the Moon of Veils. Its surface, covered in glowing rivers and thick with what humans called the Theta Mists, was named by the Seraphim as Naerissyn, the Breath of the Veil. Even the Seraphim had a name for themselves—the Tyrsaelith. Living in the Tyrsaelith’s city was like stepping into a dream, a place so entwined with its people’s essence that distinguishing one from the other felt impossible. The city sprawled with a grace that seemed both alien and natural, the glowing mists weaving through the streets like silent guides. Structures rose into the air in sinuous curves, their translucent walls pulsing faintly, as though alive. It was a world defined by harmony, where every movement, every breath, seem...

Primary Care and Suicide Prevention: Captain Obvious Strikes Again, But It’s About Time If ever an article belonged in the Captain Obvious drawer, it’s this one: “Primary care can play key role in suicide prevention,” courtesy of the National Institute of Mental Health. I mean, isn’t that like saying umbrellas can play a key role in staying dry during a rainstorm? Still, sometimes the obvious things need to be shouted from the rooftops, because too often they’re whispered and then forgotten. Let’s unpack this groundbreaking (but not-so-groundbreaking) revelation. According to the article, “Primary care providers are uniquely positioned to identify and address suicide risk.” Why? Because these are the people we see for everything from suspicious moles to suspiciously stubborn colds. The average primary care doctor sees patients from all walks of life, making them the first line of defense in spotting the warning signs of suicide. Here’s the kicker: “About 80% of people who died by s...

  A Round of Applause for Politicians? Stop the Presses. It’s not every day that I find myself tipping my hat—or, more accurately, my metaphorical pen—to politicians. But hey, when the unlikely happens, you’ve got to call it out. Enter the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s report on bipartisan support for mental health training programs. Yes, you read that correctly— bipartisan . For those unfamiliar, that’s political speak for, “We actually managed to agree on something without breaking into a food fight.” Color me shocked and mildly optimistic. According to the article, this rare act of political unity revolves around Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a program designed to equip everyday people with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health crises. It’s basically CPR for the mind, and it’s the kind of thing we need a lot more of. “The program trains individuals to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders,” the articl...

Read Part One Read Part Two Read Part Three Read Part Four Read Part Five      Part Six             The Abyssal Crown loomed before them like the gates to another world. Its jagged spires jutted out at odd angles, cloaked in the dense, silvery Theta Mists that seemed to ripple with an eerie sentience. Each step into the mist-laden terrain felt like a step further from sanity, as if the moon itself resisted their intrusion. Orin led the way, his movements less confident now, his bravado replaced with a quiet intensity. The path wound through deep chasms and over slick, uneven terrain, the ground beneath them alternating between solid rock and a spongy, unfamiliar substance that pulsed faintly when stepped on. Aiden had stopped questioning what was natural on Theta-13; the rules here seemed to defy every bit of training and logic he had ever known. Kael, pale and sweating, stumbled along with Garret supporting her weight. Her wound was ...

  As a recovering alcoholic who also happens to be an author, let me just say: there’s no greater plot twist than deciding to give up the very thing that inspired half your metaphors and most of your questionable life choices. The Columbia Tribune’s recent article, “Let These Books Guide Your Sober Curiosity,” dives headfirst into the growing movement of sober curiosity, a trend that asks, “What if you just... didn’t drink?”—a revolutionary concept for those of us who used to consider a bottle of wine a “necessary writing tool.” Spoiler alert: it’s not. The article highlights a collection of books designed to help people reexamine their relationship with alcohol. Titles like “Quit Like a Woman” by Holly Whitaker and “We Are the Luckiest” by Laura McKowen are touted as guides for the sober-curious and the fully sober alike. These aren’t your standard self-help drivel; they’re raw, poignant explorations of what happens when you trade your happy-hour escapism for, well, actual self-aw...

  Read Part One Read Part Two Read Part Three Read Part Four Part Five              The morning light on Theta-13 was unlike anything on Earth. The diffuse golden glow bled through the mist, casting the alien forest in hues of green and amber. The atmosphere was charged with a peculiar tension, as if the moon itself held its breath. Aiden, Kael, Orin, and the twins Jeph and Garret gathered their gear and set out toward the Abyssal Crown, a destination that seemed more myth than reality. Orin led the way with an energy that belied his years, his swagger exaggerated by the clang of his metal boots on the forest floor. The twins flanked him, their military discipline evident in every step, while Kael and Aiden brought up the rear. Orin’s voice carried through the air like an old bard reciting an epic. “You lot don’t know what you’re in for. The Abyssal Crown isn’t just a place—it’s a labyrinth of madness. The air shifts, the ground moves, and...

  If you needed another reason to feel like life’s ultimate game show is rigged, here’s a cheery tidbit: A recent study covered by NBC News reveals that living longer might come with a double dose of dementia risk. The headline alone feels like a grim twist in a dark comedy. Congratulations on beating heart disease and dodging cancer! Your reward? A higher chance of forgetting your Netflix password—and possibly everyone you’ve ever loved. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, examined data from over 27,000 participants and found that Americans who live longer are twice as likely to develop dementia compared to previous generations. Let me tell you, as someone who sometimes forgets why I walked into a room, this is not the news I was hoping for. My brain is already a junk drawer of half-remembered song lyrics and forgotten to-do lists; I don’t need another reason to worry about its longevity. The researchers point out that while modern medicine has extended our lives, our brains...

  In the grand casino of life, where the house always seems to have the edge, the recent surge in gambling addiction hotline calls is about as surprising as finding sand in the Sahara. According to NBC News, the rise of online sports betting has led to a significant increase in problematic gambling behaviors, with helplines across the nation noting a sharp uptick in distress signals from beleaguered bettors.  As someone who occasionally dabbles in the art of wagering—strictly for the thrill of watching my hard-earned money evaporate faster than a magician's rabbit—I find this development both predictable and perplexing. After all, when you combine the accessibility of smartphone apps with the relentless bombardment of advertisements promising untold riches, it's akin to placing a cookie jar in front of a toddler and feigning shock when crumbs cover the floor. The article highlights that since the Supreme Court's decision in 2018 to strike down the federal ban on sports bett...