When was the last time you let yourself play truly, freely, without worrying about looking silly or being judged? From picking up a paintbrush, dancing like no one's watching, or scribbling with crayons like you did as a child. Feels a little strange, doesn’t it? But what if we told you that this very act of tapping into your inner child could be the key to unlocking emotional healing and building resilience in adulthood?

In this high-pressure, fast-paced world, we’re so consumed by adult responsibilities that we often forget one simple truth: healing doesn’t always happen through words or logic, it can also happen through play and art. Welcome to the world of expressive arts therapy, where your imagination leads the way to emotional release, self-discovery, and deep healing.

None of us are necessarily born with the wisdom, responsibility, and emotional intelligence of adulthood. We develop these roles over time, experience, and sometimes, hurt. But in between freedom of childhood and the boundaries of adulthood, many of us forget the essence of whom we used to be the spontaneous, curious, expressive inner child.

That inner child, though, never really goes away. For others, it's buried under years of trauma, societal norms, and emotional repression. The mental health world is now waking up to the value of getting back in touch with this inner child — and one of the most powerful, affordable, and fun ways is through playful art.

What Is Inner Child Work?

Inner child work is a therapeutic approach rooted in the understanding that childhood experiences shape adult behavior. It’s a process of identifying past emotional wounds, acknowledging unmet needs, and “reparenting” oneself with compassion and understanding.

Imagine this: You are five, you trip during recess, and people laugh. You might not recall the event itself, but the hurt of humiliation and the commitment to never again risk embarrassment may affect your adult life in ways you're not even aware of. You might shun public speaking, avoid being vulnerable, or stay away from leadership — all because of an old unresolved memory.

This is where inner child healing becomes useful. It enables you to recognize such emotional imprints and greet your younger self with compassion, rather than criticism.

As Pablo Picasso famously said, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." For a lot of expressive arts therapists, this statement isn't merely symbolic — it's a guiding reality.

"Art helps unpack traumas that words can't always access," says Gunjan Adya, a Certified Expressive Arts Therapist. "Adults don't get to play much. They're trapped in a loop of duties and routines, and they're often detached from their feelings. Art provides an arena in which to feel, to convey, and above all, to heal."

Art is a secure, non-verbal means by which we can re-encounter lost aspects of ourselves. Making — whether drawing, painting, dancing, sculpting, or writing poetry — provides an expression for repressed feelings and a way to understanding ourselves.

Why Adults Need to Make Time for Child-Play?

As we grow older, play becomes secondary to productivity. Schedules, careers, and family responsibilities leave little time for imagination. But this privation has a cost — chronic stress, burnout, and emotional disconnection.

Gunjan adds, "Creating something, even imperfectly, makes us happy. Humans are born nurturers. The process of making — be it a piece of clay sculpture or a doodle — is a process of nurturing ourselves. It's meditative, emotionally calming, and deeply therapeutic."

Science substantiates this. Art therapy reduces cortisol levels, enhances mood, and increases cognitive flexibility, found studies. Unlike verbal-based therapies, expressive art therapy also has open arms to those who would find it challenging to put thoughts into words.

Which Art Forms Work Best?

Gunjan says there's no one-size-fits-all solution. "For some, painting with color on canvas is therapeutic. Others might find it through dance or sculpture. Through art, individuals have an opportunity to express themselves for what they feel inside — many times not even realizing that until later.

Dance releases emotion through the body. Sculpting invites patience and being present. Poetry writing orders and understands feelings. All modalities provide a unique quality of access to the self. Perfection isn't the objective, but discovery of emotion.

When adults permit themselves to do the same without censorship, they relink with the spontaneous, risk-taking essence of their youth — the same essence that long ago showed them how to find joy, venture, and dream.

How Art Helps Do Self-Repair?

While art is often viewed as a hobby, in the context of mental health, it becomes a transformative tool. Adults facing grief, burnout, anxiety, or past trauma can benefit immensely from incorporating art into their routine — even in small doses.

Tips for starting your inner child healing through art:

• Choose an art form that resonates — it could be painting, collage, dancing, or even adult coloring books.
• Carve out non-negotiable time for creation, without expectations or productivity targets.
• Let your art be guided by intuition. What colors attract you? What shapes feel comfortable? What movement feels liberating?
• Look at what you created — not to critique, but to see the emotions behind it.

You don't need to be an artist. You just need to be open.

Getting back in touch with your inner child isn't regression, it's integration. It's a strong, research-supported journey to healing adult hurts by giving yourself what you might have lacked as a child: freedom, creativity, and unconditional self-acceptance.

As Gunjan so eloquently says, "Art speaks to emotions we've silenced. When adults give themselves permission to play, they begin to truly heal."

Gunjan Adya is a Certified Expressive Arts Therapist and Founder at Tula Journey in India

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death, causing 3.5 million deaths globally in the year 2021. COPD is a common lung disease that restricts airflow and causes breathing problems. This disease can cause damage to your lungs and symptoms of it include coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing tiredness. However, many people still believe that COPD is an issue that affects older men who smoke. Delay in diagnosis of COPD in women have caused greater number of hospitalizations and advance progression of the disease as well.

According to a medical review published in the Medscape, there has been an increase in the prevalence of women who have been observed to have COPD. A 2021 study published in the Excli Journal also explained COPD is primarily associated with male gender as it was believed that men smoked more than women, however new data shows that women are actually more susceptible to this disease and the harmful effects of cigarette on them.

How Does COPD Affect Women?

Quitting to smoke is the best way to slow down COPD and make it less severe but for women, especially in poor countries, breathing polluted air inside their homes (from cooking with wood or other fuels) and outside due to air pollution is also major reasons. More women die from COPD caused by indoor air pollution than men.

Alarmingly, around 16 million people with COPD remain undiagnosed, and a significant number of these are believed to be women. As more cases emerge in women, it becomes crucial to enhance recognition and diagnosis.

According to 2022 study in the Frontiers in Medicine journal, COPD is the leading cause of death in women in the USA. The usual signs of COPD that doctors learn about might not be the same for women. They might have different symptoms, like just feeling very out of breath or having more flare-ups. Sometimes, women with COPD also have things like anxiety or depression, and doctors might focus on those instead of realizing it could be linked to their breathing problems.

Why a Late Diagnosis is a Big Problem for Women?

Research shows that women might actually be more easily harmed by cigarette smoke and more likely to develop COPD. In fact, women who smoke are much more likely to get COPD than men who smoke. Studies show that smoking causes a bigger drop in lung function in women compared to men, and women who smoke are also more likely to end up in the hospital with COPD.

Studies suggest women's lungs might get worse more quickly with COPD. So, a delay means more damage happens before they even know what's going on. Because the disease has been going on longer without treatment, women are more likely to have severe problems that land them in the hospital. COPD makes it hard to breathe, which can stop women from doing everyday things and can also lead to other health problems like heart issues and mental health problems.

Why Are Women At High Risk?

There are a few ideas why women might be more likely to get COPD from smoking,

Hormones

Hormones might play a role, but we don't fully understand how yet. Some studies show they might help, while others don't.

Smaller Lungs

Women's lungs are generally smaller than men's. This means that the damage from smoke might be more concentrated and have a bigger impact in women, even if they smoke the same amount.

When Sherry Pollex was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer at just 35 years old, she was handed a bleak prognosis—two years to live, at most. Rather than retreat into fear or resignation, Pollex found purpose. She launched a website devoted to educating women about ovarian cancer symptoms and promoting integrative approaches to treatment. She lived nine more impactful years, embracing life and using her journey to bring attention to ovarian cancer, holistic healing, and the importance of early detection.

Initially, Pollex believed she might be pregnant—her stomach was bloated, a symptom she misread as a sign of new life. But her world changed when doctors discovered 40 to 50 tumors and she was forced to undergo an emergency surgery and a radical hysterectomy that eliminated her chances of becoming a mother.

Despite her personal loss, she transformed her pain into purpose. Pollex became a beacon of strength, not just surviving but thriving as a vocal advocate for women’s health. She championed integrative cancer treatment, combining conventional medicine with holistic practices to support emotional and physical healing.

Sherry passed away at 44, but her legacy endures through the lives she touched. "I often wonder if that’s my purpose here," she once said. “Maybe I’m supposed to go through all this so I can pave the way for other women.”

“I have always been an optimist, I have never looked at a glass half-empty,” she shares. Her resilience has not only defied the odds medically, but has sparked a much-needed dialogue around an often-ignored cancer affecting thousands of women globally.

Her journey reminds us that while cancer can take a life, it cannot take the impact of a life well-lived. Let us not forget the lessons she gave us — of resilience, purpose, and the urgent need for awareness and early intervention in ovarian cancer.

Why Ovarian Cancer Is So Dangerous?

Ovarian cancer is among the most lethal gynecologic cancers, largely due to its stealthy onset. According to Dr. Vandana Jain, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of Gynecologic Oncology, “About 70–80% of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, making prognosis extremely poor, with long-term survival ranging between 15% to 30%.”

Unlike breast or cervical cancers, ovarian cancer has no reliable routine screening method. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) continues to advise against general population screening due to the lack of survival benefit. Symptoms such as bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating, and urinary urgency often mimic benign conditions, causing diagnostic delays.

The good news? Newer approaches like symptom-triggered testing using CA-125 and ultrasound can detect some cases earlier or with lower tumor burden—giving more women a fighting chance.

What is Altruism?

Altruism, by definition, is the selfless concern for the well-being of others. It’s a trait Pollex embodied long before her diagnosis—raising funds for pediatric cancer through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. Ironically, her dedication to children with cancer foreshadowed her own battle.

After her diagnosis, instead of withdrawing, Pollex doubled down on advocacy—educating women about diagnostic tools like the OVA-1 blood test, speaking before Congress to improve access to oral chemotherapy, and mentoring fellow patients through letters and social media.

A growing body of scientific literature suggests that such selflessness may be biologically beneficial. A 2003 study of over 1,500 adults in Detroit found that providing support to others reduced mortality rates more than receiving support. Another study by Massachusetts General Hospital reported that giving help was a stronger predictor of mental health than receiving it.

How Emotional Strength is Linked to Survival?

Could altruism impact disease outcomes? Experts say yes. “Mental resilience and a positive emotional response in patients can influence not just quality of life, but potentially even survival,” says Dr. Jain.

This isn’t just about being upbeat—it’s about purpose. Patients who find meaning beyond their illness, like Pollex has, often experience lower stress, stronger immunity, and improved mental health—factors that can all contribute to longer survival.

Even within oncology wards, mental health professionals notice this pattern. As psychologists put it, “We frequently observe that patients with a history of purpose-driven lives fare emotionally better during the most trying times, which has downstream effects on their physical resilience.”

Pollex didn’t just share her story—she created platforms for others to share theirs. From highlighting fellow survivors on SherryStrong.org to helping a newly diagnosed woman find her own oncologist through shared networks, her outreach continues to ripple outward.

The power of storytelling in medicine cannot be underestimated. It fosters community, reduces isolation, and amplifies awareness—especially for diseases like ovarian cancer that often lack mainstream attention.

Moreover, Pollex’s ability to remain active in public life—traveling across the country, speaking at events, and fundraising—models what it means to live fully despite chronic illness. “You could be sick tomorrow and I could be well tomorrow—you never know what life is going to bring you. So living each day to the fullest is my motto,” she said.

Early Signs of Ovarian Cancer You Must Know

Symptom-triggered testing for ovarian cancer has been endorsed by various cancer organisations like American cancer society and Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr Jain says, "Though ovarian cancer was considered a silent killer, some symptoms if of new onset, coexistent with other symptoms, present almost daily for a few weeks and considered severe than expected, should be evaluated and can increase the chances of detecting."

As Dr. Jain emphasizes, recognizing the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer can be lifesaving. The disease may be considered a “silent killer,” but studies show that symptoms precede diagnosis by 3 to 36 months. When evaluated in time, 25% of high-grade serous ovarian cancers can be detected early or with a smaller disease burden—improving outcomes significantly.

Key early symptoms to look out for:

• Persistent bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Feeling full quickly
• Urinary frequency or urgency

If these symptoms are new, frequent, and more severe than usual, seek medical evaluation and ask about CA-125 and pelvic ultrasound tests. Major trails done in the past have failed to show any survival benefit with routine screening.

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) 2018 recommendation statement continues to recommend against screening for ovarian cancer for asymptomatic women who are not known to have a high-risk hereditary cancer syndrome

Patients identified with a high-risk family history should be referred to a genetic counselor and genetic screening for a possible hereditary cancer syndrome ( BRCA1, BRCA2, Lynch syndrome, and other mutations). Patients who test positive for one of these syndromes may benefit from interventions such as risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

While science continues to uncover the intricate ties between emotional resilience and physical health, stories like Pollex’s offer compelling evidence- living for others might just help you live longer.

Dr. Vandana Jain is a Senior Consultant and Head of Department of Gynecologic Oncology at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre in Delhi, India

Purple has been a dominant colour in our lives. Beyond those beautiful flowers, crayons, and candies, it is also often associated with royalty. Several kings and queens have been photographed wearing vibrant purple capes. As this colour continues to rule our environment, a new revelation about purple has left everyone shocked. Recently, scientists said that this colour does not exist in real life but is only a figment of our imagination.

Purple Has No Place In Electromagnetic Spectrum

Scientists have said that pruple doesn't exist, not in a way that we think. A new study has upended our perception of the colour wheel, revealing that purple is not a "real" colour in the spectral sense. Unlike red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet—which all correspond to specific wavelengths of light—purple has no unique place on the electromagnetic spectrum. Instead, it's a mental mashup, created by the brain to resolve a paradox it can't physically solve.

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Here's What Actually Happens

When both red and blue wavelengths hit our eyes simultaneously—two ends of the visible light spectrum that should never naturally meet—the brain panics. Red and blue are like the North and South Poles of colour, never destined to blend in the linear sequence of light. simply bends the spectrum into a circle to make sense of the confusion. It fills in the gap by inventing a colour that doesn't technically exist in nature—voilà, we get purple. So purple is a colour that is technically not presen in the light spectrum, but exists as a solution to a problem.

Our Eyes Have Cone Cells For Colour Reception

To grasp why the illusion of purple occurs, we need to explore the biology of vision. Our eyes are equipped with three types of cone cells, each sensitive to short, medium, or long wavelengths—corresponding to blue, green, and red light, respectively. These cones transmit information to the brain through the optic nerve, where the thalamus and visual cortex analyse which cones were stimulated and to what extent.

This complex signalling system enables us to perceive not just basic colours but over a million distinct shades, including teal, magenta, and peach—each formed by combining inputs from various cones. However, purple disrupts this process. When both the short (blue/violet) and long (red) wavelength cones activate simultaneously without a corresponding spectral wavelength in between, the brain takes a creative leap. It invents a completely new colour. And this is how we get purple.

Purple Colour Has Psychological Effects

People often describe this colour as mysterious, spiritual, and imaginative. Meanwhile, psychologists associate the colour purple with the following aspects:

• Creativity
• Emotionality
• Enlightenment
• Femininity
• Imagination
• Inspiration
• Mystery
• Rarity
• Royalty
• Spirituality

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