Many of us can empathise with that feeling of keeping stuff for years and years. We might keep treasured objects with real sentimental value, or we might have items for a long time - and yet we can't really explain why. For those of us who don’t like getting rid of our belongings, life can feel very full of stuff. But when does a tendency to hold on to things become more worrying? It can be difficult to put a figure on just how many people have what's known as hoarding disorder but it was classified as a mental health condition in 2013. So what causes this complex and little discussed issue – and is it more than just a problem of too much stuff? Claudia visits a woman who describes how hoarding has taken over her life to the extent that she doesn’t let anyone into her home. We also meet her psychologist to understand what underpins hoarding disorder and how it’s treated. And joining us in the studio is Daryl O’Connor, professor of psychology at the University of Leeds, who brings an intriguing study about a phenomenon known as “environmental sensitivity”. He explains what it is and its new-found links with very common mental health conditions.Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Gerry Holt
Content editor: Ilan Goodman
Production coordinator: Jana Holesworth
Studio engineer: Tim HefferDetails of organisations offering help and support with mental health or self-harm are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
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28:10
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28:10
What is beliefism, and can you spot a liar?
Just looking at the news can give the feeling that today’s world is more polarised than ever. And the stats show that in Britain, the majority of people believe that society is divided. How can we go about bridging this divide? Paul Dolan, professor of behavioural science at LSE, has written a book called Beliefism on exactly this. He chats to presenter Claudia Hammond about how we can learn to get along with people we disagree with, and how doing this can impact our lives for the better.Also, The Celebrity Traitors starts this Wednesday on BBC One. To convince their fellow contestants that they’re innocent, the Traitors have to be pretty good at deception. But how can the Faithfuls successfully identify their lies? Claudia speaks to Sharon Leal, senior research fellow in forensic psychology at the University of Portsmouth, to scrutinise the psychological evidence on deceit – and Sharon’s research has real life impacts on how police conduct their interviews. And Claudia is joined in the studio by Pete Olusoga, senior lecturer in psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. Pete shares new research that suggests the bigger a problem is, the smaller it seems, and how being nosy at work could be causing undue stress. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Sophie Ormiston
Editor: Ilan Goodman
Studio Manager: Emma Harth
Production coordinator: Jana Holesworth
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28:06
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28:06
The rise of AI therapy
Would you ever share your most intimate, personal circumstances with an AI - and then use its advice in your day-to-day life?If the answer is yes, then you are not alone. Many people are turning to human-like AI chatbots for help with their mental health. So we're going to spend the programme exploring the fascinating and growing phenomenon of AI therapists. We’ll find out how and why people are using it by listening in to some very personal AI ‘therapy’ sessions. How does it work - and can it be effective? As its real-world use far outpaces the evidence, we’ll find out the potential pitfalls – and positives.Can AI therapy really help us?Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Presenter's friend: Professor Catherine Loveday
Producer: Gerry Holt
Researcher: Mohan Shi
Content editor: Ilan Goodman
Production coordinator: Jana HolesworthDetails of organisations offering support with mental health, or feelings of despair are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
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28:20
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28:20
All in the Mind Awards Ceremony
Many of us will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives – and it is often the help and support of those around us that can make all the difference to how we cope and recover.The BBC Radio 4 All in the Mind Awards recognises the unsung heroes who have helped make that difference. Claudia Hammond meets the finalists and announces the winners in the All in the Mind Awards ceremony, recorded with a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London.Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Lorna Stewart, Hannah Fisher & Gerry Holt
Content Editor: Glyn Tansley
Awards Coordinators: Jana Bennett-Holesworth & Siobhan MaguireIf you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support are available at BBC Action Line.
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30:18
The Psychology of Curiosity at Cheltenham Science Festival
Is curiosity good for us, or should we learn a lesson from what curiosity did to the cat? And why does curiosity drive some people to explore the ends of the earth and beyond, while others just really aren’t very curious at all? As a journalist and author, Claudia Hammond has turned curiosity into a profession. She invites a panel of people for whom curiosity is also at the centre of what they do to discuss the psychology of curiosity in front of an audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival. They are... Tim Peake – astronaut, test pilot and author. His lifelong curiosity took him to live for six months on the International Space station. While he was there he famously ran the London Marathon on a treadmill and he was the first British astronaut to walk in space. Gosia Goclowska - a lecturer in the department of psychology at the University of Bath. She researches some of the more unusual emotions we experience such as curiosity, awe and surprise. And Matthias Gruber - an associate professor of psychology at the University of Cardiff. His research focuses on the neuroscience of curiosity and learning. Producer: Lorna Stewart
Production Coordinator: Jana Holesworth
Sound Engineers: Gayl Gordon and Giles Aspen
UK