I used to be ashamed of being a fangirl. Now I see how joyous and creative it was

Lady Gaga was my idol, but I didn’t dare tell anyone. Now a new wave of books and films shows us why female obsession is such an important part of growing up

Autistic scholar Temple Grandin: ‘The education system is screening out visual thinkers’

By favouring verbal thinkers, says the author and animal scientist, essential skills are being lost. Her new book aims to demonstrate the power of processing information in different ways

Oliver Jeffers grew up in Belfast hating violence. Now he wants children to see how futile it is

The children’s author, who lived through the Troubles, believes that kids should be taught to seek peace from an early age. By Donna Ferguson

The big idea: do we all experience the world in the same way?

Every human brain is different – it’s time to embrace the diversity of our experiences

Once a year I lose myself in the Hebrides to walk and think – before going back to the life I love

This wild part of Scotland, so central to my beginnings, works like a time machine on me, says Edward Docx

Want to get a good night’s sleep? First of all, stop trying

Seven expert and unexpected tips for people who have already tried everything. By Camilla Stoddart

Little evidence screaming helps mental health, say psychologists

Experts question long-term benefits of therapy for mental and psychological disorders

When life feels cluttered, a good tarot reading can slow down the rush to quick solutions

Shuffling and studying the pictures on tarot cards can be like a moment of meditation

‘I was lacking deeper connection’: can online friends be the answer to loneliness?

People you don’t see face to face can still provide a community, says Yasmina Floyer

Experiencing the perimenopause has many alarming downsides. But it can be sexy, too…

When Christie Watson put on an HRT patch she found herself thinking about sex, all the time. What was going on?