Laurel Braitman: Depressed dogs, cats with OCD — what animal madness means for us humans
Behind those funny animal videos, sometimes, are oddly human-like problems. Laurel Braitman studies non-human animals who exhibit signs of mental health issues -- from compulsive bears to self-destructive rats to monkeys with unlikely friends. Braitman asks what we as humans can learn from watching animals cope with depression, sadness and other...
Laurel Braitman: The mental health benefits of storytelling for health care workers
Health care workers are under more stress than ever before. How can they protect their mental health while handling new and complex pressures? TED Fellow Laurel Braitman shows how writing and sharing personal stories helps physicians, nurses, medical students and other health professionals connect more meaningfully with themselves and others -- ...
Laurel Bartmess: I Imagine a World Without This Phrase: "I Am a Single Mother"
When I was young, I did not say to myself, “When I grow up, I want to be a single mother.” And so, I wonder why, after my divorce at the age of 38, I chose to start using the phrase “I am a single mother.” Without thinking, this situational description became part of my narrative – both in my mind as well as in my conversations with others. This...