Mental health

Everything you need to know about how hormones shape mood, focus, and emotional balance. We explore anxiety, depression, ADHD, stress response, and cognitive performance through the lens of neuroscience and endocrinology. Learn how to stabilize cortisol, support healthy testosterone levels, and rebuild mental clarity.

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The essentials for mental health — then explore the latest posts below.

Brain fog in men: The best vitamins for brain fog and memory and the supplements that actually make sense

Brain fog in men: The best vitamins for brain fog and memory and the supplements that actually make sense

Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD avatar
Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD: Clinical Psychologist & Neuroscience Specialist
Jan 20, 2026 · 12 min read

The most evidence-based vitamins for brain fog and memory in men are B12 (often alongside folate and B6) to correct deficiency and reduce homocysteine, plus vitamin D when status is low, because these pathways support brain energy metabolism, neurotransmitter function, and immune-driven inflammation control. Here’s how to tell when “brain fog” is a fixable signal ...

The science of caffeine free energy drinks: How to boost focus without the crash

The science of caffeine free energy drinks: How to boost focus without the crash

Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD avatar
Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD: Clinical Psychologist & Neuroscience Specialist
Jan 10, 2026 · 11 min read

Caffeine-free energy drinks can boost focus without a “crash” by supporting real cellular energy—ATP production in the mitochondria (Krebs cycle) and oxygen/nutrient delivery—rather than blocking brain adenosine receptors, which masks fatigue while adenosine continues to accumulate. Here’s how ingredients like B-vitamins, amino acids, and electrolytes aim to power performance without triggering the cortisol-and-adrenaline stress spike. ...

Is the male midlife crisis real? The science behind the slump

Is the male midlife crisis real? The science behind the slump

Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD avatar
Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD: Clinical Psychologist & Neuroscience Specialist
Dec 31, 2025 · 9 min read

A male “midlife crisis” isn’t a DSM-5 diagnosis, but the midlife slump is real: large studies show life satisfaction typically bottoms out around ages 47–48, often colliding with age-related testosterone decline and peak life stress. Here’s what’s happening in the brain and body—and how to navigate the shift with a strategy, not willpower. “We often ...

Seasonal affective disorder or hormones? A men’s guide to winter mood, testosterone, and sleep

Seasonal affective disorder or hormones? A men’s guide to winter mood, testosterone, and sleep

Dr. Susan Carter, MD avatar
Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert
Dec 29, 2025 · 12 min read

In men, winter “low mood” can be true seasonal affective disorder (a recurrent depressive pattern that starts in late fall, peaks in winter, and eases as daylight returns) or a look‑alike driven by physiology—less morning light can delay your circadian rhythm and prolong melatonin, while testosterone, cortisol, and thyroid shifts can produce the same fatigue ...

Can somatic exercises for weight loss actually help men get lean?

Can somatic exercises for weight loss actually help men get lean?

Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD avatar
Dr. Jonathan Pierce, PhD: Clinical Psychologist & Neuroscience Specialist
Dec 27, 2025 · 9 min read

Somatic exercises don’t meaningfully drive fat loss through calorie burn, but they can help men get leaner by shifting the autonomic nervous system from sympathetic “fight-or-flight” to parasympathetic “rest-and-digest,” lowering chronic HPA-axis stress and cortisol — a hormone linked to visceral abdominal fat accumulation in men. If you’re training hard and dieting but your midsection ...

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