How we work
Editorial Standards
In short
Every factual claim on this site has a source you can check, listed at the bottom of the page. We say how strong the evidence is, in plain words. We don’t promise results, and we don’t sell supplements. Each page shows when it was last updated, and we fix mistakes as soon as we find them.
Who writes this
The guides and the book are written by Adam Hale, the author of Sound Mind, from lived experience of the loop of compulsion and from the research. Adam isn’t a clinician. When a licensed clinician has reviewed a page, the page says so, with the reviewer’s name and credentials.
How we source claims
- Every factual claim gets a source. The sources are listed at the bottom of each page, with links to PubMed, the publisher, or the official page.
- We check the source itself. Every study is checked against its PubMed record or the publisher’s page before we cite it. Regulator pages and label rules are read on the official site.
- We prefer the strongest evidence available: clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, and randomized trials. When only weaker evidence exists, we use it and say so.
- We don’t cite studies whose funding we can’t determine when the claim is contested.
How we label the evidence
We tell you how strong the evidence is, in plain words, right where the claim is made.
| What we say | What it means |
|---|---|
| “Strong evidence,” “guidelines recommend” | Consistent findings from guidelines, systematic reviews, or several good trials |
| “Promising,” “early research” | Positive, but from small or uncontrolled studies |
| “Linked to,” “associated with” | Found together in observational studies, which can’t show cause |
| “Mixed” or “weak” | The studies disagree, or they’re poor quality |
| “Retracted” or “a myth” | The claim was withdrawn, or the evidence has come out against it |
Findings in animals are always labeled as animal findings.
What we won’t do
- Promise results. We describe what the evidence shows and what has worked for people. Your path will be your own.
- Use fake or unverifiable testimonials. The men in our examples are composites, and we say so.
- Sell supplements. No product maker pays for a mention. When we discuss a supplement, we give the evidence and the cautions on its label.
- Use shame or scare tactics. Shame feeds the loop. We ask for responsibility, never self-punishment.
- Recommend anything that works by lowering your testosterone or harming your health.
Updates and corrections
Every page shows the date it was last updated, and we review our guides regularly as new research appears. If you spot a mistake, email [email protected]. We’ll check it against the source and fix it. If a correction changes a page’s meaning, we note it on the page.
Not medical advice
This site is education, not medical or psychological treatment. If your clinician’s advice differs from anything here, follow your clinician. Read our medical disclaimer. If you’re thinking about harming yourself, reach out now: in the US, call or text 988. Elsewhere, visit findahelpline.com, or call your local emergency number.