Psychology
Antidepressants: what they do, side effects and stopping safely
What antidepressants treat, how long they take, common side effects, whether they are addictive, and why you should never stop them suddenly.
27 Sept 20268 min read
Neuroplasticity
Pronounced nyoor-oh-plas-TIS-ih-tee
Also known as Brain plasticity, Neural plasticity, Rewiring the brain
The brain's ability to change its connections in response to learning, experience, practice and injury. It is strongest in childhood and adolescence but continues throughout life.
In Psychology
Each time you learn a skill, form a habit or relearn movement after a , connections between nerve cells are strengthened, weakened or rebuilt. That capacity to change is neuroplasticity. It is strongest in childhood and the teenage years, but the adult brain keeps a real ability to learn and adapt as you age.
It works in both directions. Repeated experiences, including long-term stress, shape the brain: pathways that are used more become stronger, and those used less weaken. That is part of why therapy asks for practice between sessions — rehearsing a new response is what makes it more automatic, much as a forms.
What it does not mean
Promises to "rewire your brain in seven days" stretch the idea too far. Lasting change comes from repeated, effortful practice over weeks and months, and, where needed, proper treatment.
Where this comes up
Psychology
Attachment styles: what the research actually says
Attachment theory is solid science, but the four “styles” online are a simplification. They are sliding scales, not fixed types, and they can change.
27 Sept 20267 min read
Psychology
Chronic pain and the mind: why pain lasts and what helps
Long-term pain is real, but the nervous system can turn its volume up. Movement and psychological therapy help more than ever-stronger painkillers.
27 Sept 20268 min read
Related terms
- HabitHabits, Habit formationA behaviour that has become automatic, set off by a familiar situation without much thought. Habits form by repeating the same action in the same context.
- ResilienceResilient, Psychological resilienceThe ability to adapt and recover after hardship, loss or stress. It is not a fixed trait you either have or lack; it grows from relationships, habits and support.
- Prefrontal cortexPFC, Frontal lobeThe front part of the brain, behind the forehead, responsible for planning, decision-making, self-control and weighing consequences. It is one of the last areas to mature, in the mid-to-late 20s.
- Cognitive behavioural therapyCBT, Cognitive behavioral therapyA structured, time-limited talking therapy that helps you notice and change the thoughts and behaviours that keep a problem going. It is a first-line treatment for depression and most anxiety problems.