Aaron Balick 🍉
@aaronbalick.com
Leading voice on how tech & culture shape the psyche. Psychotherapist | Consultant | Psych writer at GQ | Keynote speaker | Author of The Psychodynamics of Social Networking | aaronbalick.com
Pinned
Why you regress into a stroppy teen at Christmas (and what you can do about it)
'Tis the season for regression – even if you're older, wiser and have done a heap load of therapy. Here Dr. Aaron Balick breaks down why going home for the holidays is so challenging, and how you can ...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
It is a truth universally acknowledged amongst psychotherapists that however much progress a client has made through December, they will invariably return a hot mess come January.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
There’s probably good reason you’ve found yourself doomscrolling lately - what’s motivating you to do it may. E surprising. Some thoughts of my own:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Why Doomscrolling is Secretly a Search for Hope
After finding myself in a doomscroll-spiral, I realised I wasn’t chasing disaster but reassurance – I was hopescrolling.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:05 PM
There’s probably good reason you’ve found yourself doomscrolling lately - what’s motivating you to do it may. E surprising. Some thoughts of my own:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
Already a subscriber to Applied Psychodynamics? Great! Please help me make it even better by sharing your thoughts.
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Reader Poll
Now you've had a chance to get acquainted with Applied Psychodynamics perhaps you could tell me a bit more about what you'd like to more (or less) about?
open.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Already a subscriber to Applied Psychodynamics? Great! Please help me make it even better by sharing your thoughts.
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Already a subscriber to Applied Psychodynamics? Great! Please help me make it even better by sharing your thoughts.
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Reader Poll
Now you've had a chance to get acquainted with Applied Psychodynamics perhaps you could tell me a bit more about what you'd like to more (or less) about?
open.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Already a subscriber to Applied Psychodynamics? Great! Please help me make it even better by sharing your thoughts.
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Not yet a subscriber? Now's the time. Tell me what you want and I'll do my best to deliver.
Poll attached:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
There’s probably good reason you’ve found yourself doomscrolling lately - what’s motivating you to do it may. E surprising. Some thoughts of my own:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Why Doomscrolling is Secretly a Search for Hope
After finding myself in a doomscroll-spiral, I realised I wasn’t chasing disaster but reassurance – I was hopescrolling.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:05 PM
There’s probably good reason you’ve found yourself doomscrolling lately - what’s motivating you to do it may. E surprising. Some thoughts of my own:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
Last week I found myself in a doomscroll spiral that lasted for days. Once I pulled myself out of it, I did some self-analysis and found something interesting and unexpected about my behaviour: open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Why Doomscrolling is Secretly a Search for Hope
After finding myself in a doomscroll-spiral, I realised I wasn’t chasing disaster but reassurance – I was hopescrolling.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Last week I found myself in a doomscroll spiral that lasted for days. Once I pulled myself out of it, I did some self-analysis and found something interesting and unexpected about my behaviour: open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Last week I found myself in a doomscroll spiral that lasted for days. Once I pulled myself out of it, I did some self-analysis and found something interesting and unexpected about my behaviour: open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Why Doomscrolling is Secretly a Search for Hope
After finding myself in a doomscroll-spiral, I realised I wasn’t chasing disaster but reassurance – I was hopescrolling.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Last week I found myself in a doomscroll spiral that lasted for days. Once I pulled myself out of it, I did some self-analysis and found something interesting and unexpected about my behaviour: open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
People often believe the lies they are told, despite actually knowing they are lies, because the story of the lie is more preferable than the truth.
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
January 9, 2026 at 9:08 PM
People often believe the lies they are told, despite actually knowing they are lies, because the story of the lie is more preferable than the truth.
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
People often believe the lies they are told, despite actually knowing they are lies, because the story of the lie is more preferable than the truth.
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
January 9, 2026 at 9:08 PM
People often believe the lies they are told, despite actually knowing they are lies, because the story of the lie is more preferable than the truth.
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
They are pretending (to themselves) not to know.
1/2
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no universal recipe for living. Each of us carries his own life-form within him—an irrational form which no other can outbid.”
- Jung
- Jung
January 3, 2026 at 4:24 PM
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no universal recipe for living. Each of us carries his own life-form within him—an irrational form which no other can outbid.”
- Jung
- Jung
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no universal recipe for living. Each of us carries his own life-form within him—an irrational form which no other can outbid.”
- Jung
- Jung
January 3, 2026 at 4:24 PM
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no universal recipe for living. Each of us carries his own life-form within him—an irrational form which no other can outbid.”
- Jung
- Jung
New year new hobby.
Let’s hope for improvements come 2027!
Let’s hope for improvements come 2027!
December 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
New year new hobby.
Let’s hope for improvements come 2027!
Let’s hope for improvements come 2027!
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
‘Tis the season for regression, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Why you regress into a stroppy teen at Christmas (and what you can do about it)
'Tis the season for regression – even if you're older, wiser and have done a heap load of therapy. Here Dr. Aaron Balick breaks down why going home for the holidays is so challenging, and how you can ...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
‘Tis the season for regression, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
‘Tis the season for regression, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Why you regress into a stroppy teen at Christmas (and what you can do about it)
'Tis the season for regression – even if you're older, wiser and have done a heap load of therapy. Here Dr. Aaron Balick breaks down why going home for the holidays is so challenging, and how you can ...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
‘Tis the season for regression, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Now you need a therapy session, fa la la la la, la la la.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
It is a truth universally acknowledged amongst psychotherapists that however much progress a client has made through December, they will invariably return a hot mess come January.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Why you regress into a stroppy teen at Christmas (and what you can do about it)
'Tis the season for regression – even if you're older, wiser and have done a heap load of therapy. Here Dr. Aaron Balick breaks down why going home for the holidays is so challenging, and how you can ...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 9:09 AM
It is a truth universally acknowledged amongst psychotherapists that however much progress a client has made through December, they will invariably return a hot mess come January.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
It is a truth universally acknowledged amongst psychotherapists that however much progress a client has made through December, they will invariably return a hot mess come January.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Why you regress into a stroppy teen at Christmas (and what you can do about it)
'Tis the season for regression – even if you're older, wiser and have done a heap load of therapy. Here Dr. Aaron Balick breaks down why going home for the holidays is so challenging, and how you can ...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 9:09 AM
It is a truth universally acknowledged amongst psychotherapists that however much progress a client has made through December, they will invariably return a hot mess come January.
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/why-...
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
AI isn’t replacing human thinking; it’s reshaping the conditions under which thinking happens:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
This is Your Brain. This is Your Brain on AI.
How AI is reshaping your psyche by directly embedding itself into your psyche. Here is what’s happening psychologically — whether we like it or not.
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:59 AM
AI isn’t replacing human thinking; it’s reshaping the conditions under which thinking happens:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
AI isn’t replacing human thinking; it’s reshaping the conditions under which thinking happens:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
This is Your Brain. This is Your Brain on AI.
How AI is reshaping your psyche by directly embedding itself into your psyche. Here is what’s happening psychologically — whether we like it or not.
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:59 AM
AI isn’t replacing human thinking; it’s reshaping the conditions under which thinking happens:
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Recognising Martha Plympton in #Task was a very weird Gen X nostalgia moment.
I’ll never forget her totally unique impact as a young actress aside River Phoenix in The Mosquito Coast - and again in The Goonies.
“Gosh she looks old” I thought as I IMDB’d hero, to find I’m only 3 years her junior!
I’ll never forget her totally unique impact as a young actress aside River Phoenix in The Mosquito Coast - and again in The Goonies.
“Gosh she looks old” I thought as I IMDB’d hero, to find I’m only 3 years her junior!
a woman with glasses says just stand down in front of a hbo max logo
ALT: a woman with glasses says just stand down in front of a hbo max logo
media.tenor.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Recognising Martha Plympton in #Task was a very weird Gen X nostalgia moment.
I’ll never forget her totally unique impact as a young actress aside River Phoenix in The Mosquito Coast - and again in The Goonies.
“Gosh she looks old” I thought as I IMDB’d hero, to find I’m only 3 years her junior!
I’ll never forget her totally unique impact as a young actress aside River Phoenix in The Mosquito Coast - and again in The Goonies.
“Gosh she looks old” I thought as I IMDB’d hero, to find I’m only 3 years her junior!
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
“When you outsource your mind to AI, you are insourcing AI into your mind.”
December 21, 2025 at 10:38 AM
“When you outsource your mind to AI, you are insourcing AI into your mind.”
How AI is re-structuring your mind: open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
This is Your Brain. This is Your Brain on AI.
How AI is reshaping your psyche by directly embedding itself into your psyche. Here is what’s happening psychologically — whether we like it or not.
open.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
How AI is re-structuring your mind: open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
When you outsource your mental work to AI, you don’t lose your psyche — you quietly integrate it into your psyche.
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
This is Your Brain. This is Your Brain on AI.
How AI is reshaping your psyche by directly embedding itself into your psyche. Here is what’s happening psychologically — whether we like it or not.
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
When you outsource your mental work to AI, you don’t lose your psyche — you quietly integrate it into your psyche.
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
When you outsource your mental work to AI, you don’t lose your psyche — you quietly integrate it into your psyche.
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
This is Your Brain. This is Your Brain on AI.
How AI is reshaping your psyche by directly embedding itself into your psyche. Here is what’s happening psychologically — whether we like it or not.
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
When you outsource your mental work to AI, you don’t lose your psyche — you quietly integrate it into your psyche.
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
open.substack.com/pub/appliedp...
AI scribed emails that attempt to flatter authors to lure them into social media promotion deals are the new scourge.
I penned this response to one this morning:
1/4
I penned this response to one this morning:
1/4
December 20, 2025 at 11:14 AM
AI scribed emails that attempt to flatter authors to lure them into social media promotion deals are the new scourge.
I penned this response to one this morning:
1/4
I penned this response to one this morning:
1/4
It’s so impressive how low a lowest common denominator can go, and still be considered something of value to so many.
December 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
It’s so impressive how low a lowest common denominator can go, and still be considered something of value to so many.
Reposted by Aaron Balick 🍉
Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching ‘Stand by Me’ www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/o...
Opinion | Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching ‘Stand by Me’
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching ‘Stand by Me’ www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/o...